Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-10
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1914.
GOV. BLEAsE AND DR.. 6A6cocK
Official Correspondence With Refer
ence to Or. Saunders.


During the examination Of DR.. Bah
cock last Saturday, when it was sought
to bring out the correspondence OF
Governor Blease with reference to Dr.
Saunders, DR.. Babcock was disposed to
withhold the letters, because Of their
confidential nature. Governor Blease
however, assented to the publication OF
the letters, which according to the
stenographic record. are as follows:
State of South Carolina, Executive
Chamber.
Columbia, November 10, 1913.
"Dr. ]. w. Babcock, Superintendent
State Hospital for the Insane, CO.
lumbia, S. c.
Dear Doctor: had hoped that the
Dr. Saunders Cooper episode out there
would pass over without my taking a
hand, but from conversation which
l could not help overhearing in the
room next to mine in a home away
from Columbia recently, engaged In
by some ladies, am forced to request
you to see DR.. Saunders quietly re-
tires from the hospital for the insane
at as early date as you can make II
convenient. My information is that
DR.. Cooper is still there hanging
around. and that he eats his meals
there and that he and DR.. Saunders
are frequently seen together, and that
DIR. Blackburn is still deprived OF the
work which he was elected to do. L
do not intend by this letter to impugn
the motives Of DR.. Saunders for mo-
ment. From what I can learn OF her.
there is no question that she Is a gooa
woman. But think she has placed
herself in a very unfortunate posltton'
and YOU will please take the steps ad-
vised by me in this letter. as I do not
longer propose to allow her to stand
between the administration Of the at
fairs of the institution and DR.. Coop
er. This Is positive, and you need not
call for any further instructions or ex-
plantations. have discussed this mat
ter with you, and had hoped that you
would see the propriety Of acting. AS
you have not, / must.
VERY respectfully.
(Signed) Cole L: Biease,
Governor"
Dr.. Babcock to Gov. Blease.
State Hospital for the Insane.
u. w. Babcock, M. D.,
Superintendent.
Columbia. S. c., Nov. II, 1913.
His Excellency, Cole L. Blease, Gov
ernor, Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: beg to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter Of the 18th inst. L
do not see how can act in this matter
without it's first being brought to the
attention and action Of the board OF
regents, who should in the premises
either direct me to or themselves ask
for the resignation Of DR.. Saunders,
whom they elected assistant physician
July /, 1913.
IF, however, you think / have such
authority and you still desire me to do
so, will show your letter to DR.. Saun-
ders and ask her to withdraw from the
institution.
"The result of this will be, / appre-
hend, a general exodus Of the white
nurses from the hospital, which will
leave unattended nearly 500 white wo-
men patients Whereas, think, II the
matter were brought before the board
of regents and the board themselves
handled 1t with DR.. Saunders the insti-
tuition may be able to retain the nurses
or prevent their sudden withdrawal.
Il would much prefer to discuss the
matter with you and If necessary to
have a special meeting Of the board OF
regents called to carry out your views
in the matter, because ! do not wish
seemingly to act over their heads.
Respectfully submitted,
u. w. Babcock,
superintendent"
The Governors Reioinder.
state of South Carolina, Executive
Chamber.
Columbia. Nov. II. 1913.
"Dr. ]. w. Babcock, Superintendent
State Hospital for the Insane, CO.
lumbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: Your letter of November
II received You will please ask the
secretary Of the board of regents to
call a meeting for the early part Of
next week-Monday or Tuesday-in
order that the matter may be taken up
before them. AS for the white women
nurses withdrawing from the institu-
ton, that would be very bad, but II
they knew the talk that Is going on
now, ] think the decent women would
withdraw, anyhow, II conditions were
not changed.
Please have this board meeting
called at the time stated, so that the
matter can be placed before them.
They will put stop to what am try
ing to stop. If they don't / will get
board of regents that will. do not
propose to put up with 1t any longer.
And l still say that / am surprised at
your not having run Cooper out Of the
institution long before this.
Very respectfully,
(Si0nanl "Cnla 7, PlaQ