The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-24

moyal the regents have stated would
nave ended what they say is friction
at the asylum.
Surprised at Complaints.
DR.. Saunde.s said she knew nothing
of any objection from other members
Of the medical staff until she was hailed
before the regents on December y,
without previous notice, and the COM
plants made there. Everything she
did, she stated, was with the approval
of DR.. Babcock, the uperintendent,
and none Of the other heads protested
at the time, and not until December
! II. Sac said that up to that time she
Iuad no knowledge that her work was
other than satisfactory to the regents,
to Governor Blease, to the superinten-
dent and to the public.
Beginning with her appointment to
the medical staff in May, 1907, DR..
Saunders rapidly sketched the many
things she had done to bring the
white female department under her
charge up to a hign state of efficiency
and how the interests Of each patient
were looked after. Her interest in
the patients, the many kindly things
she did for the families of unfortun-
ates, how she always tried to make
the patient feel at home and the home
people satisfied, how she examined the
different cases and tested for causes
in an effort to cure the patients, the
many improvements in sanitary and
other ways and how each year she had
tried to get more knowledge to fur
ther help her in the work she is do
ing, was easily CLEANED from the sim
pie way in which Dr. Saunders gave
her side of the case to the committee.
Without any idea of trespassing or
interfering, she said, she often helped
in other departments and there had
been the most cordial relations with
every one, as she thought, and what
she did was in generous and cooper
ative spirit, she said, and suddenly, in
December, she was dragged before the
board and the unjust and unfair"
charges made against her, and she was
condemned unfairly and untruly.
Talked With the Governor.
| DR.. Saunders told of how she went
TO Governor Blease with her head
nurse the Saturday prior to the meet
ing of the regents last July, when the
changes Of subordinates at the asylum
were made. She said she had stated
she would not apply for reelection if
her work was not thoroughly satisfac-
tory to every one. She told of having
thanked the governor for his assis-
tance in. getting the hospital nurses
put on an equal footing with other
nurses and said that the governor told
her he would use 0is influence to have
her retained. She stated she went
away, and after the reelection, went
about her duties, and in her efforts to
help the patients and upbuiId the hos
pitaI, thought no more of it, knew
nothing OF any complaints against
her, until On December II, when she
was served with notice to appear be-, i,
fore the regents the following day.
DR.. Saunders cnoked with emotion
when she related having seen for the
first time the letter written by Gov
ernor Blease to DR.. Babcock demand
ing her removal, and she said the
governors charges she considered
were against her character and they,
she stated, were untrue, and unfair.
She termed her experience before the
regents and Governor Blease on De-
cmber IL narrowing" and reiterated
how in vain she tried to tell them sne
had done no rong, and how she re-
fused to accept the action of the re-
gents TO hush up the matter, for she
demanded that her good name be
cleared and she wanted the full light
turned on, and let everything stand in
the open.
DR. SAY der5 answered effectively
some statements about nurses funds,
which sne had handled, by presenting