The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-12
DR.. WILLIAM FREBMAE AND THE
STATE BOARD OF GEALTa.

The State Board Of Health is made up OF
Republican doctors. 1t is as purely partisan
as His EzcelIency Governor Porter could
make it. Every abdominal ripple OF hon.
est joy felt by the Stats Board of Health Is
realized ty member OF the &. o. r.
p. Such wss the will OF Governor
Porter. His Excellency wanted every
member Of the State Board of Health
to be Republican pulse-feeler, bone-setter,
pill-peddler and puke-pronoteI, and exer-
cised his high prerogatiye in that direction.
He ignored Democratic doctors and doctrine,
and placed himself on record by his appoint
ments In harmony with the Republican idea
that in matters pertaining TO the health OF
the State, no Democratic doctor
should be heard in the deliberations OF the
State Board Of Health. 1t is not the purpose
OF THE article TO eriticise the Governors Goa
stitutional right to hare strictly Republican
BOARD OF Health. Such EXTREME partisanism
is allowable. II emphasizes His EIcellency's
mistaken adherence to the Oft repeated and
as often condemned declaration, ITO the vic.
| tors belong the spoils." Bat, considering the
feet that siEoe His Excelency was inaugura-
! ted, the people Of Indiana have declared in
favor of the Democratic party. HIS Excel
lency could, with eminent prudence aud pa
triotlsm, have so far yielded 70 public senti-
ment as TO have plscsd one Democratic doc
tor upon the list Of the State Board OF Health
officials. Sitting in his Office, realiz-
ing his powers, privileges and prerogatives,
permitting his thoughts to take in all the
great interests OF an empire STATE with more
than 1000, 600 OF inhabitants, majority
/ OF whom are Democrats. it does seem TO an
| sveIsgs citizen that His Excellency could
/ have so far overcome his partisan predIlec-
| tons rs TO have named one Democratic doc
/ tor fsE 8 Board OF Health official. But il is
well enough we suppose, as it is, at least we
have no complaint TO urge. Our purpose is
TO call attention 20 the treatment the Repub-
! lican State Board of Health bestowed upon
/ DR.. William freeman, an applicant OF the Of
! fec for Secretary OF the Board. IL seems that
/ DIR. Freeman was at one time Trustee of
| the House OF Refuge, and was legislated out
OF Office by Senate bill No 81 OF the last Legis-
! lature. This bill having passed the Legislature
| Governor Porter conceived il to be his duty
/ to veto il. chiefly because IL legislated DR..
/ Freeman out Of Office. 10 bis veto message,
| dated February -, 1893, Ee ind the follow.
! ing:
"Df. Freeman wss private soldier In the
/ Thirtisth Regiment OF Indiana Volunteers in
the War Of tho Rebellion. At the battle Of
| Chickamauga he was shot through the body,
I, the ball having passed through his lungs.
! lie lay upon the field several days. He was
go near 20 death from the wound inflicted
that his recovery is recorded In The Medical
and Surgical History Of the War published
! by the Surgeon General oi the United States,
as one OF the remarkable recoveries from
gun shot 1sunds. He was member of the
Legislature from Switzerland County in 1877,
| and served with much credit on the House
I Committee on Rtfo5matory Institutions.
| On account Of bis patriotic services. spotless
character and peculiar fitness nominated
him to the Senate during the session of 1881,
| as Trustee of the House Of Refuge
! We understand that DIR. Freeman, in pre-.
senting his claim 20 the office of Secretary OF
the State Board OF Health, accompanied ii
with the Governors high Endorsement, por.
ton OF which We have copied. But il ap-
pears, when the Republican Board of Health
| got down to the work OF balloting for a Sec
rotary, DIR. Freeman did not receive single
vote. He wss completely ignored, had no
show at all. His application does not seem
to have been treated with any respect, what
ever even the Governors Endorsement does
not appear to have had any weight in
determining the action Of tie Board. Nov.
! then, will the Governor veto the action o: