The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-26

Columbia, Feb. 21.-The House has
adjourned until sos O'Clock Wednes-
day night, by which time it is expect
ed the Senate will have caught up
with its work and both houses will
be ready to adjorun sine die.
The House passed a resolution pro-
viding for a recess until Wednesday,
but 1t was necessary to obtain the con-
sent Of the Senate before the resolu-
tion became effective. The upper
chamber promptly acquiesced, how
over.
The sensation Of the day, Of course,
was the appointment Of DR.. Houseal
as superintendent Of the State Hos
pital for the Insane: the refusal Of the
Senate to confirm it by a vote Of 81
to 3, and the message of Governor
Blease today explaining the matter
along the lines OF the dispatches in
The News and Courier this morning.
DR.. j. w. Babcock, the present su-
perintendent Of the Hospital for the
Insane, who seems to have been made
the innocent victim Of Governor
Blease's pique at DR.. Houseal not hav-
ing been elected a trustee Of the Med
ical College does not care to go into
the newspapers with reference to his
treatment, certainly not for the pres
ent. Last night, when the Senate re-
fused to confirm the appointment of
DR.. Houseal, the matter was simply
one before the Senate, but today the
Governor called the incident to the
attention Of the House, through
special message which gives the mat
ter quite fully and shows how things
often happen in politics. The mes
sage is Illuminating and reads:
Message No. 42.-The State of
South Carolina, Executive Department
Gentlemen Of the Senate: In my an
nual message l recommended the
taking over OF the State Medical Col
lege Of Charleston, and the appropria-
ton Of $40, 900 for this purpose, which
recommendation has been fully car
ried out by both branches of the Gen
eral Assembly, and the bill has been
signed and is now a law.
On February 16 received the fol-
lowing letter, which shows that some
people are apprehensive Of my inter-
est in that fight:
charleston, S. c., Feb. 16, 1913.
His Excellency, Cole L. Blease,
Governor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear
Governor Blease: l want to thank
you in behalf Of the trustees and fac
ulty Of the Medical College for your
interest in our bill and for the sup
port which you gave it. 1t should
be a source of qualification to you
that this measure has been enacted
during your administration, for it is
certainly III the line of constructive
educational legislation and will exert
beneficial influence upon the entire
state. l hope the bill will come to
you for your signature at once so
that the General Assembly NAV elect
the new trustees and put the machin-
cry into operation without delay
yours sincerely, Robert Wilson, Jr.'
On yesterday the General Assembly
elected the trustees of this College. l
requested some of the members Of the
General Assembly to help me have
elected a personal friend Of mine, and
l thought to elect him would be but a
courtesy due me for the interest l
had taken in the matter The Gen
eral Assembly, however, saw fit not
to do so.
When / was first elected Governor,
| offered the position Of superintend-
ent OF the State Hospital for the In
sane to DIR. w. Gustave Houseal. He
declined it, telling me the work
would not suit him, and that he could
not afford to take it, and did not want
1t. At the beginning Of my present
term l again asked him about the
matter and he again declined it.
Yesterday after he was defeated for
trustee of the Medical College, ! sent
his name to your body as superin-
tendent Of the state Hospital for the
Insane, knowing full we'll that if he
was confirmed he would not accept 1t.
Nor did expect you to confirm his
appointment, aft"r the action of the
General Assembly yesterday. But |
wanted TO put on record before the
people to South Carolina that |
Thought w Hustavc Iiouscal worthy
of the me" honorable position within
my pift as Governor. 50 far as the