The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-30
THE poARp AND IT'S Duty.

At their meeting to-day the Board
of Directors of the Penitentiary will
elect surgeon for that institution.
There are two candidates for the office
DR.. Charles V. Darlington and DR..
Herbert Mann, both physicians in good
and regular standing. The former
has filled the position for twelve years
and filled it with great advantage to
the State. He has proved his fitness
for the place by the manner in which
he has administered its affairs. by the
reforms he has accomplished, by the
faithfulness with which he has met
every professional requirement. He is
office, and by reason Of his service
better fitted than the physician who
would like to get the place
Half OF the physicians and surgeons
OF this city have under their own sig
natures expressed the high apprecia-
ton of the professional fitness OF DR..
Darlington. and their hope that the
Board Will retain him in the service
he has performed with such ability.
Five OF the physicians of Farmville say
to-day that "Dr. Darlington has shown
his fitness by long and faithful ser
vice, by advocating and putting into
practice reforms anu betterments for
the prison class ana has become
leader in the treatment and manage
ment OF penal institutions and trust
that he will be reelected Surgeon of
the Virginia Penitentiary."
Newspapers OF character and respon-
sibility throughout the State have
spoken with warm approval of DR..
Carringtons services and have ex
pressed the hope that the Board OF
Directors would be governed in their
action IN this matter by what is for
the good Of the State. and by no other
considera ton or considerations what
soever.
The Democratic nominees for the
State Senate and House of Delegates
from the City of Richmond have ad-
dressed letter to the Board of Direc-
tors urging the reelection of DR.. Car
rington. and saying that it is their
belief that the best interests Of the
Penitentiary, its inmates and of the
State demand his reelection"
Distinguished men and women from
all parts of the State, men and women
who have been active workers for tho
reform OF our penal institutions, have
appealed to the Board 10 decide this
question not between men, but on the
ground OF approved and amply de-
monstrated fitness.
When the Democratic candidates for
Senate and House from Richmond call
ed on the Governor yesterday TO pre-
sent the case 20 him tor his consider
alton they were told that the whole
matter was. in the hands of the
Board. toqr 6I the'members of which
were appointed by him, and that he
would certainly not do anything to
.injure his nephew" and he added that
The assumed that IL the Penitentiary
Board did not elect DR.. Darlington
TO the position OF Surgeon TO the pen!-
tertiary IL would be because they had
knowledge of facts which in their
judgment would make 1t for the in
terest of the State that they should
not do so, and that IN that event he
considered 1t would be their duty to
give 10 the public the facts upon which
they had based their action
Two or three days ago it was sug-
gested in one Of the local papers that
an effort would be made TO !mpeach
DR.. Darlington for ineficiency, and he
Immediately waited upon the members
Of the Board 10 ascertain from them
individually what basis there was for
any such statement, and he now re-
ports that Major Patton. the Chair
man OF the Board, said; II never in all
my lie and certainly never in all my
connection with the Penitennary Board
ever heard whisper rejecting on
your conduct or your work" Mr..
Bradley. member of the Board.
Eai :: Doctor. such talk is all idle
newspaper talk; there Is nothing In il.
Your absolute efficiency has neve.
been questioned" Mir. L. I. scherer
another member OF the Board. when
the same question was put to him
said: u never heard any one in the
Board speak OF YOU except in a com.
plimentary way Mr.. Samuel Cohen. q
member of the Board. said: You are
q good Doctor and mighty fine Eel.
low; there IS absolutely nothing in it,
-Four OF the Eve members Of the
Board were appointed by Governo.
Mann. Their appointments are wha,
are called recess appo!ntments"-tha,
is. they have not beer confirmed by the
State Senate. which body VIM pas.
upon them at It's next session in Janu.
airy.
With DR.. carrington's fitness an,
seryice approved by at least one-hal
the physicians of this town, with III.