Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-25
THE HoUSEAL APPOINTMENT
Governor BIease Explains Why He
Sent Nomination to the Senate.

Governor BIease Explains Why He
Sent Nomination to the Senate.
Governor Blease on last Friday sent
the general assembly the following:
Message No. 42-The State of South
Carolina, Executive Department-Gen-
tlemen Of the Senate: In my annual
message I recommended the taking
over of the State Medical college Of
Charleston, and the appropriation OF
$4,000 for this purpose, which recon-
mendation has been fully carried out
by both branches Of the general assem-
bly,, and the bill has been signed and is
now a law.
On February 16 I received the fol-
lowing letter, which shows that some
people are appreciative Of my interest
in that fight:
Charleston, S. c., February 1e, 1918.
His Excellency, Cole L. Blease, Gov
ernor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Governor
Blease: I want to thank you in behalf
of the trustees and faculty of the Med
ical college for your interest in our bill
and for the support which you gave It.
1t should be a source Of qualification to
you that this measure has been enacted
during your administration, for 1t Is
certainly In the line Of constructive
educational legislation and will exert
beneficial influence upon the entire
state. hope the bill will come to you
for your signature at once so that the
general assembly may elect the new
trustees and put the machinery into
operation without delay. Yours sin
cerely, Robert Wilson, Jr.
On yesterday the general assembly
elected the trustees Of this college.
requested some of the members Of the
general assembly to help me have
elected a personal friend Of mine, and
thought to elect him would be but a
courtesy due me for the interest I had
taken in the matter. The general as
sembly, however, saw At not to do 80.
When I was first elected governor, I
offered the position Of superintendent
Of the state hospital for the insane to
DR.. w. Gustave Houseal. He declined
1t, telling me the work would not suit
him, and that he could not afford to
take 1t, and did not want 1t. At the be-
ginning Of my present term ! again
asked him about the matter, and he
again declined 1t.
Yesterday, after he was defeated for
trustee Of the Medical college, I sent
his name to your body as superinten-
dent of. the State Hospital for the In
sane, knowing full we'll that If he was
confirmed he would not accept 1t. Nor
did expect you to confirm his appoint
ment after the action Of the general
assembly yesterday. But wanted to
put on record before the people Of South
Carolina that thought w. Gustave
Houseal worthy of the most honorable
position within my gift as governor, so
far as the medical profession Is con-
cerned, whatever your general assem-
bly, may think of him to the contrary
notwithstanding. BY your not confirm
ing him you have gained nothing, for
he certainly would not have accepted
It, He is now in Norfolk, Va, and re-
peated efforts to get in communication
with him have failed. But II he had
been reached his answer would have
been, II will not accept"
I paid him this compliment for my
own reasons. Your refusal to confirm
him has certainly not injured his repu-
tation, nor have you gained any polit-
ical achievement as against me in the
matter
If you will read Section 8, Of Article
IL, Of the Constitution Of South Caro-
lima, you will see that have the power
to remove the superintendent Of the
State Hospital for the Insane, and all
that would have to do, II so desired,
would be to wait until you adjourn, re-
move DR.. Babcock and appoint DR..
Houseal. But, as I have just stated,
and repeat, the purpose for which DR..
Houseal's name was sent you has been
accomplished, and II DR.. Babcock were
to die or to be removed, DR.. Houseal
has too fine a practice to give 1t up to
accept the position.
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease, Governor.
Columbia, 8. c., February 21, 1913.