The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-23

! ciateS them more than |. There has
been no governor of South Carolina
VINO has given more attentive ear to
the appeal made by the superintendent
of this hospital, in behalf of the in
sane say that now before the gov
ernor. I have said that behind his
back, and | say it to the world. If
any act or word of mine has ever
given one moments offense to this
board of regents, it has been wholly
unintentional, and l humbly apollo
gize. Whenever the board has called
upon me, have done my level best to
respond If there has been any lack
of harmony between US, fear it is
more my fault than yours. l GER
tainly have never meant to reflect
upon you The lack Of harmony is
of long standing, Mr. Chairman, and,
again, | make no claim to be free
from blame Governor Blease and
have talked it over-I believe, Mr..
Chairman, that he has talked. it over
I with you gentlemen, for g. long time,
that there IS friction here. Now, do
mot wish to avoid any of the onus
Of that friction-I take my part of it
but I believe this board of"regents
and I believe these physicians have
honestly done the best they can, etc.,
etc.
The constitution of the State Of
South Carolina, article II, under the
head Charitable and Penal Institu-
tions," Section 2, provides that "the
regents of the State Hospital for the
Insane and the superintendent there
of shall be appointed by the
governor, by> and with the advice and
consent of the senate. Therefore,
when first became governor, il I
bad wanted DR.. Babcock out, all 1
would have had to have done would
have been to appoint some one as his
successor, and I could do the same
thing now. The same constitution
gives me the power of removal, and
could very easily remove DH>Bab-
cock, or request his resignation, and
appoint some one else in his stead. If
any effort should be made to oust
DR.. Babcock, it will not be done Sc
crately and under handedly, but
direct communication to Dr. Babcock
from me will be sent However, this
would not be necessary, for DR.. Bah
cock last September resigned as su.
perintendent and insisted that l ac-
cept his resignation, which | declined
to do, and it is today before me. So,
who is it that can "oust DR.. Bah
COCK or is trying to do SO?
You notice, further, in this letter
from this United States senator, it,
is stated: Governor Blease's under
lings and satellites want to manipu-
late the sale of that property, and
the building of the new institution out
at State Park" To show you how
unwarranted this statement is, by
reference to house journal of 1913.
page 1925. (senate journal, 1913 page
810) you will see that It was |, as gov
ernor, who vetod the bill to sell this
asylum property, stating that Il am
absolutely and unqualifiedly opposed
to the sale Of this property and
have stated openly and above board on
many occasions that l was absolutely
opposed to the sale of this property,
and that it would never be. sold while
was governor of South Carolina;
and it will not be, if l can. prevent
pug,, lu9m9le4s IaQlInl qua o. sV II
the building of the new institution
out at State Park" appointd Col.
Ebert H. Aull, Hon. o. L. Johnson
and Hon. James NJ. Payne, and reap
pointed Drs. Babcock and Robert
Wilson on that commission. 1 know
that these men are absolutely op-
posed to the sale of this property, and
are today begging and pleading with
you, the general assembly of South
Carolina, to provide the money to
finish this work, and / have already
transmitted to you gentlemen an in
vitation from them, urging you to
visit State Park, in order that you may
see for yourselves the needs in con-
nection with this development.
The letter then goes on to state:
can effort will be made to ,snireh