The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-23
TO PROBE State HOSPITAL,
A. u. HERRING OF MARYLAND TO
INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS.
Chief Executive Would Eliminate Poll.
tics in Operation of Asylum and Sc
cures aid OF Officials and Roard oe
Regents.

Columbia, Jan. 21.-After consider
ing the question for more than two
months Gov. Richard T. Manning YES
terday announced his plan for thor
ough and unbiased investigation OF
the State Hospital for the Insane. The
plan which has been decided upon by
the new chief executive has been laid
before all concerned and has met with
hearty approval.
The plan in brief calls for a COM
plete study Of conditions existing at
the asylum by a personal representa-
tive Of the governor. An exhaustive
legislative investigation will not be
asked by the governor as has been
published. Gov. Manning wants To
gets the facts. He said yesterday that
he intended to go about the matter
! in business-like manner
Yesterday the governor announced
that he had named A. p. Herring, NJ.
D., secretary of the lunacy commits
sion of Maryland, as his personal rep
, resentative to make the investigation
of the asylum. DR.. Herring arrived
in Columbia yesterday morning and
after a conference with the governor
went Immediately to work and will re-
port at the earliest possible moment
The selection of DR.. Herring by
Gov. Manning was made after a care
full investigation Of his record. The
desire was to secure a man capable
In every way to make the desired in
vestigatiOn. DR.. Herring is man
of national reputation in his profes.
sion.
Just after his election last fall Gov.
Manning took up the matter of the
asylum. He studied the question thor
oughly and came to the conclusion that
politics should be eliminated. He
decided that a report on conditions
should be made by an expert from
without the State Of South Carolina.
Gov. Manning said yesterday that the
asylum had been football in poll
tics" in South Carolina and that he
desired to formulate plans to help
the States most sacred wards" To
secure report on conditions in the
asylum that would be accepted by I'll
as fair and impartial, he looked about
for the best man available for the
work.
A celebrated physician of Phila-
delphia was suggested as one who
would be familiar with such an in
vestigation. This physician suggested
! Thomas w. Salmon, Nj. d., an inter
national authority, of New York.
Gov. Manning saw DR.. Salmon in New
York and explained the situation, es-
| pc ecially the financial affairs Of the
asylum. 1t was estimated by the ev-
! l'erts that about $500 would be ncces-
sary to make the proper investiga-
I ton. Finally, DR.. Herring, who has
gained wide reputation by his w:.rk
in Maryland, was suggested for the
mission.
! In addition Gov. Manning made
further investigation Of DR.. Herring
and found him to be capable in every
way, as represented by the New York
experts. DR.. Herring came to Colum~
bia yesterday morning upon request
of the governor.
7. j. Strait NJ. d., superintendent
of the asylum, was called into confer
ence by Gov. Manning. DR.. Strait
said that he was highly pleased with
the proposed investigation by the per-
sOnal representative Of the governor
and that DR. Herring would be given
access to every department OF the
asylum. Later the governor held a
conference with julius H. Taylor. NJ.
d., and James A. Summersett, mem
bers of the board of regents The plan
Of investigation was we'll received by
these two members and others.
! The proposed probe will cover every
department of the asylum. The gov
ernOr Will ask for the facts and the
facts alone in connection with the in
stitutiOn. He has requested DR.. Her.
ring to make the report complete in
every detail After DIR. Herring has
completed his work here he will sub
init it to number OF experts for
suggestions. When the eport ha.;
been completed it will be submitted
to Gov. Manning as inform; ion.
Gov. Manning yesterday ,sued the
following statement:
II feel that an investi ion into
conditions at the asylum, n order
to be of value in remedyil,g those
conditions. must be free from any