The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-23
DEFENDS Or. BiDc0CK.
STRONG LETTER FROM FORMER
GOVERNOR HEYWARD.
GOV. Hayward, Writing from Charles
ton, Says DR.. BabDck Is Most
Useful Man In State.


ton, Says DR.. BabDck Is Most
Useful Man In State.
The Charleston News and Courier
publishes the following letter from
former Governor ID. c. Hayward:
To the Editor Of The News and
Courier: I was greatly surprised and
grieved to see In your paper this
morning that the senate judiciary
committee had recommended to the
senate that the resie nation Of DR..
'Babcock and board Of regents be
requested by that body. On account
Of warm personal friendship for DIR.
Babct N. and knowlege gained
through four years Of close ofIicial
rSlationship with him as superinten-
dent OF the asylum. ask your per-
mission to say few words in his
behalf f
In my irst message to the general
assembly In 1904. In dealing with the
state hospital for the insane DON
cluded my remarks with this state
,ment: They (the inmates) are for
tunate at least, In being under the
faithful and gentle ministration Of
. capable and thoughtful seperinten-
dent Of this Institution. to whom our
state owes debt Of gratitude" Were
to rewrite this message now. after
seven years. would make my words
even stronger.
believe that DR.. Babcock IA be-
Ing unintentionaily held responsible
for conditions at the hospital which
he was powerless to prevent. and
to the alleviation Of which ne has
devoted the best years Of his useful
life. He has literally sacrificed his
life for the unfortunate Of his state.
During the first year of my ad-
ministration. when DIR. Babcock. ply
sicaily and mentally worn out and
discouraged by the tremendous bur-
dens which rested upon him. tender
cd to me his resignation as superinten-
dent Of the asylum. appealed to him
70 withdraw IL on the ground that I
knew no man who could take his
place. and that to remain was his
duty to the state. He withdrew his
resignation despiter tn, fact that GER
tain influential citizens of Columbia
were urging him to enter upon the
practice Of medicine In the city. sew
eral OF these friends Offering to guar
antee him an income more than
three times as large as ne was re-
csivins as superintendent OF the asy-
lum. ffh4s
IT 10 not my purpose to discuss or
criticise either the reports of the in
vestigating committee, nor any action
which has been taken by the genera,
assembly. The only point which ]
wish to make is that II any man or
set OF men Is to be held responsible
TOR the conditions Of affairs which ex-
ist. and have existed for some years
as the state hospital for the insane,
that less Of that censure should at.
tach to DR.. Babcock than to anyone
In the state. for the reason that he ID
probably the only one in the state
who thoroughly realized what II
meant to conduct terribly over
crowded asylum on the small amount
per capita allowed for the support of
the South Carolina asylum, and be-
cause ne remained at his post of
duty for years with all his heart
and soul and sympathy In his work.
have not before me at this hur-
ried writing. any Of the reports made
by the board OF regents to the gen.
erai assembly between and including
the years 1so4-1so7. but have copies
OF my messages for those years, and
all reports Of conditions and recon-
mendations made therein by me In
reference to the asylum were made
mt the request OF and after long and