The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-28

their work and duties. BY the same
authority as interpreted by the su-
preme court in the case OF Pinckney
vs Henegan, 2 Strobhart Law. page
2sS, and the State ex rel. Hay vs..
Farnum. 80 s. c., page 10. The
general assembly may lay down rules
by concurrent resolutions for the
guidance and government of State
officials In the discharge Of duties,
and we recommend the adoption Of
the concurrent resolution that we pro-
pose and that will follow this report.
In the Judgment Of the committee.
based on the great preponderance Of
the evidence adduced during the in
vestigation. the State Park property
Is ideal and admirably adapted to
and for the use and purposes for
which 1t was purchased, and ought
to be and should be developed as
rapidly AS the State can afford to do
SO to the end that the great conges-
tion now existing at the State Hos.
pital for the Insane may be gradu-
ally and completely relieved.
1t is our opinion based upon the
testimony, that all patients of the
classes which will be mostly bene-
fited by the quiet and pure air Of the
country should be first removed
thereto. and those classes only which
can be most advantageously treated
in the present quarters in this city
be retained.
There is now q modern and splen-
did building completed at the State
Park. which should at once be
equipped and occupied, relieving as
much as possible the distressing con-
gestion now 90 universally deplored
In the State hospital in this city-giv-
ing more and better room to those
who are removed and to those who
are unfortunately left behind--and
acting as a double blessing.
Your committee went fully and mi
nutely into the complaints. insinua-
ton. innuendoes. inquiry ard charges
against DR.. Eleanora B. Saunders.
We find no evidence to sustain any of
them. She ts not guilty Of any wrong
intention or wrongdoing. There is no
breath Of even q suspicion as to her
moral character. none against her
professional reputation and conduct
and career, In her ethical department
and in all Of her conduct in or out of
the institution, the State Hospital for
the Insane. The few and insignificant
acts on which complaints were based
were the direct result Of requests from
the observation-disclosures superior Of
ficer. and were executed in the dis
charge Of duty to suffering humanity
and are to be commended and praised
rather than condemned.
Her work and labors in the State
Hospital for the Insane bear eloquent
tribute to the remarkable initiative,
aided by ureless energy and domi.
mated by the womanly woman's over.
lowing love for unfortunate human
ity which love. energy and tireless de-
votion is manifested by her every
Of which she has been the
mainsprinC and which is shown in the
results In every department. Of work
which she has touched and which
even her critics in almost every in
stance have admitted.
We condemn the method Of trial of
Dr. Saunders adopted on December
l2. 1919. and hope that the records Of
the State will never show o repetition
OF such procedure.
We refer to this merely to call the
attention Of the members of the gen
eral assembly to the necessity Of pro-
viding against any repetition Of such
q proceeding in the future--as under
a proper and logical system Of rules
and regulations no such proceedings
could have obtained. irresponsible
power Ia that power which is exer-
cised without rule or reason and from
which there is no recognized method
of appeal. There should be no such
power vested in any person or persons
In the State OF South Caroline. and
there should be rules carefully pre-
pared. adopted and passed to prevent
another such occurrence.
We commend the stand of the su-
perintendent. Or. j. w. Bahcock, in
this acute exigency and throughout,
the subsequent aftermath, when he,
ehampioned the right. not only Of his
loyal and true subordinate and staff
Ofi1cer. DR.. Eleanora B. Saunders. but
OF q woman whose every instinct ~,
shown to be for the right, the inter-
este Of the unfortunate patients under,
her care and the best interests Of the