Evening star., 1914-02-08
ALL CONV|CTS FREE,
b[EASE'S NEW PLAN
South Cardinals Governor
Urges Turning Prison Into
tuberculosis Hospital.
EXPECTS TO RELEASE 400
BY THE FIRST OF AUGUST
Row. With Tillman in It. Develops
Over Inquiry as to In
sane Asylum.

COLI MBIA. S c. February Am
angry outburst by Gov. Cole L. Blease
and testimony by the governor to the eff
feet that he expected to clear the South
Carolina penitentiary of some 400 prison.
ers by next August We're the features
of an inquiry into the conditions at the
state hospital for the insane, which to-
day was instituted before a special legis-
lative committee here.
DIR. ]. W. Babcock. superintendent of
the hospital under investigation aroused
the ire of Gov. Blease when he testified
that he had learned on good authority
that certain charges affecting the con-
duct of the hospital had been overheard
by Gov. Blease in a conversation at the
home of the governors sister.
Advancing to the front of the room.
Gov. Rlease exclaimed:
That's false! If you try TO drag my
sisters name into this
The governor concluded the sentence
in lower tone with what was construed
as a threat
Members of the investigating committee
Immediately shifted the inquiry to other
matters and that incident was closed.
Tillman Also Witness
United States Senator B. r. Tillman
also was a witness today. He told the
committee that his assertions that an
effort would be made to discredt and
dismiss DIR. Babcock were based upon
statements of the asylum superintendent
himself. Senator Tillman admitted that
he had guessed the hospital property
might be sold for private gain
DIR. Babcock, one of the central figures
in the inquiry, followed Senator Tiilman
on the witness stand. He stated that the
board of regents at the hospital had in
a way interfered with his work and the
harmonious operation of the asylum by
promulgating a rule by which they could
elect his subordinates. In speaking OF
DIR. E. b. Saunders, woman physician.
whose resignation was at one time asked
for by the regents, DR.. Babcock declared
he regarded her as the best officer of the
institution. and last year personally urged
Gov Blease to reappoint her.
DR.. Babcock then related in detail the
incidents which led up to the demand of
Gov Blease, in November. 1918. that
Dr. Saunders be removed. 1t was a re-
cital of conflicting influences and of al
fpged fnCiscreet acts of certain physicians
at the hospital.
To Free All Convicts.
The governor stated that he hopes to
have all convicts freed from the state
penitentiary here by August /, 1914, and
he urged that the prison be converted
into q tuberculosis hospital for negroes.
He stated fatty that he would veto
amy appropriation for the further de-
velopment of the "sandy bottom lands"
at State Park where it is proposed to
establish the new hospital for the in
sane. He regarded the effort to enact
legislation authorizing the sale of the
hospital property i'll Columbia as a steal.
Il came into the office of governor
three years ago determined to GUST Bah
cock" H.. said. "because he was a traitor
to James IL Tillman during his trial at
Lexington. S. C., for the murder of Con-
zales ten years ago
Accuses Dr. Saunders.
DIR. T. B. Saunders is unnecessarily in
terfering with the work of the other
officials of the asylum. and is today the
bone of contention between DIR. Babcock.
the board of regents and the governor.
and should be removed he asserted.
He told the women to leave the room
at the opening of his address because
he was going TO some very plain
language" They left. He reviewed in
detail the turbulent situation surrounding
the hospital officials for the past several
Years and made many caustic COM
meuts.
The investigat ton today was ordered by
the legislature as result of a special
message. from the governor, who inclosed
a letter from United States Senator Till
man containing charges of improper OFF,
cial interference with the hospital admin
istration.