Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-13
Iuope,tJ. IT Rockingham ana noycott

10 tie Editor Of the Dispatch
| always read everything in the pa
pers above the name of j. X. Kei6ing-
ham. | told him years ago he was too
honest ever to be .ich, and my prophecy
has been fulfilled. But while his heart
is always right, like other men he is La
bic to err in judgment. | was sur
prised to find my friend 90 little out
Of his way in the Dispatch to-day to
thrust vigorously at the medical profess
sion and declare that they are "more
grinding in their boycott than the
Knights Of Labor" | know he is sin.
cere in his opinion, and am very GER
tain if make it plain that be is in Cfror
he will confess it. This, think, can
be done in few words.
Doctors, like plumbers and other
trades, must needs have 4 schedule Of
prices, because-frst, it prevents ex-
tortion and, second, it prevents litiga-
ton. If a plumber presents me with
a bill | think exorbitant, and on my
expressing surprise shows me his list
of prices agreed upon by the best men
in the trade, if am reasonable man
| am at once satisfied. lfa doctor pre-
sent his bill, and the same thing takes
place, be has to do like the plumber.
The plumber has the advantage thai he
can show the cost Of material and the
difficulty of the work, whereas such is
the nature of the Doctors services that
like exhibition is impossible. If his
bill goes before jury they cannot help
the matter. In the absence Of
the "tarif of fees - the Judge
would be no better OIL. The honest
men Of every trade may be safely
trusted. have always found this so.
These men put their heads together and
determine what their work is worth,
and | feel very confident that they are
always about right, and every sensible
man ought to respect their judgment.
Doctors do this, but there are two
classes Of men with whom they have
trouble First, the men who sign a
tariff of fees and then clandestinely
violate it to get practice; and the
second, a much smaller class, who
refuse to 60 into the tariff arrange
ment at all and charge what they please.
Now, what does the large class Of doc
tors agreeing to this tariff do in this
case? Do they boycott" these Of
tenders? BY no means ; they simply
let them severely alone. Do they try
to injure their practice? Do they tell
the outsiders patients not to continue
to employ them? never knew of such
case in large experience. If man
ceases to visit neighbor, or to deal
with a grocer, is that boycotting? Nay,
verify But if he tells his friends who
have been on good terms with the
neighbor and the grocer to cease their
visits and their patronage, that is boy
cotting, and is as plain violation OF
that 4" law that, worketh no i'll to his
neighbor as it is possible to conceive
Of. When Abraham and Lot could not
agree they parted they did not boycott
SdOh ObhSls ahh luiAO quiz bhdb .ll
keiniDgham will never boycott any one.
1t is not in his nature, and | say this
from an acquaintance OF thirty years
nor do | see how any intelligent Chris
tan man who has studied his relations
to his fellow-man can engage in it. Ii
is the same old story Of " force" am
a poor man, and always expect to be
poor, but had rather die in the poor
house than take part deliberately in boy
cottiDg anybody. have always been
in favor of arbitration, and urged it on
both parties years ago. No Christian man
can desire to see any class Of citizens
degraded by low wages and consequent
poverty. "Liye and let live" is the
proper motto. Let the pulpit preach
vigorously the brotherhood of man and
the certain judgment against the men
who "grind the face Of the poor" and
you will accomplish something. But
force will provoke force, and then will
come evil, and only evil.
But | beg pardon for DEPRESSION.
l. u ~