The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-25


my reputation and not for the reten-
tion OF my position" declared DR..
Eleanor IL. Saunders, woman physi-
clan at the State Hospital for the In
sane, before the asylum investigating
committee OF the general assembly
this afternoon.
Il considered the letters Of Gov
srnor Blease and the remark Of DIR.
Griffin a SANDER" said DR.. Saunders,
in statement simple in its narrative.
Every listener bent closer as DIR.
. saunders told of the executive meet
ing OF the regents on December IL,
when she was condemned on charges
OF interfering with other members of
the medical staff. and neither her
father nor attorney was allowed to be
present. Not In a spirit OF denuncia-
tion. but with womanly dignity, DR..
Saunders impressed her hearers with
the fact that the position is not what
she 10 trying to retain: 1t Is her good
name and her reputation which she.
wants cleared Of charges which, she
says. are unfair. unjust and untrue.
In telling OF the executive meeting
Of the regents on December IL. when
she was suddenly confronted with
complaints from other members of
the medical staff with no previous
Knowledge. and when alone with her
accusers. she said this afternoon that
she tried vainly TO tell them her work
at the asylum had been only for the
best interests OF the institution and
In an effort TO build up the Hospital
and advance the comfort and well be-
Ing OF the poor unfortunates there
and OF how DR.. Griffin insulted her
and she left the room In tears.
Dr. Saunders said that IL Governor
Biease intended to slander her. it was
unfair that he should say 1t was best
for her that the matter be closed. 1t
was unfair that the governor should
act both as my prosecutor and my
Judge" she said. In that meeting. she
said. her professional integrity and her
personal conduct were assailed, and
the charges made by Governor Blease
and others were unjust. unfair and
sntrue. and she considered them a
slander.
II saw no reason why should ac-
cept the accusation" she said, refer
ring &c the alleged unfairness OF her
treatment before the executive session
OF the regents and OF her declination
TO accept the suggestion to end the
matter. ''as IL was best for the young
lady" as stated by Governor Blease
and the regents In their resolution re-
fusing the request OF her father, Rep
resentative o. l.. Saunders. to reopen
the investigation.
DIR. Saunders said she refused to al
low the matter to be hushed up and
the evil tongue OF silent suspicion be
noised abroad and its poisonous innu-
ence get ut work. She wanted the
full light turned on and the whole
matter threshed out In the open. she
said. All she asked was for u fair trial
and this was refused her by Governor
Blease and the board Of regents, she
stated.
How without social life. continuous
iy on duty and with no outside prac
tice. she had labored for seven years
TO upbuild and uplift the state Hos
pita for the Insane. and that what
work she did in other departments
was In the spirit OF cooperation and
with no knowledge that there was OBJ
lection from tho heads OF those de-
partments. was told this afternoon by
Dr. Saunders. the woman physician.
whose removal the regents have stated
would have ended what they say is
friction at the asylum.
DIR. Saunders said she knew nothing
OF any objection from other members
OF medical staff until she was hailed
before the regents on December IL,
without previous notice. and the com.
did. she stated. was with the approval
OF DR. Babcock. the superintendent,
and none OF tho other heads protested
at the time. and not until December
IL. She said that up to that time she
had no knowledge that her work was
other than satisfactory to the regents
to Governor Blease. To the superin-
tendent and TO the public.
Beginning with her appointment to
the medical staff in May. 1907, DIR.
Saunders rapidly sketched the many
things she had done To- bring the white
female department under her charge
up TO n high state OF efficiency and
how the interests of each patient