St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-14
DR.. Ancker'S Words Of Wis
dom Upon a Social -
Blot. .gse
Something Should Be Done
to Punish Men Who De-
Sert Families.
City Comptroller's Position in
Regard to the Azotine
Contract.

"The most fruitful source of poverty
and painful Distress" said DR.. Ancker, ,
the city physician. at the board of con-
troll yesterday, sis the desertion of
their families by prOfiigate and con-
scienceless hus bands"
Yes" added member of the board,
regretfully, that is the greatest burden
that confronts US. We have to meet
cruel instances every day. just as soon
as the wretch who calls himself huS-
band finds that he must either go to
work or go hungry he "Reminiscences
his wife and babies to stare starvation
in the face"
st certainly is shocking" resumed
the doctor, with feeling. when one
comes in contact with so many cases
where the mother is left INDECENT, and
usually physical wreck and absolutely
helpless, surrounded by a number of
puny. Sickly and half-starved and half
clad children-I tell you, when one wit
nesses such scenes, as often as we do, it
makes one feel that heroic treatment
should be measured out to the deserving
scamp. The whipping post-it is con-
trary to the principles of our form of
government, and is considered inhuman
and unchristian, but when a big, burly
brute will leave his family without the
slightest possibility of gaining a sub
stance without begging or stealing. save
for such succor as can be granted by
this board, one is tempted to
Become a Cynic
and to forget that we are taught to
temper punishment with mercy. We are
tempted to advocate the whipping post
as the only adequate punishment for
such OffenseS."
1--WE want law, at least, to commit
every man who deserts his family and
leaves them to starve-leaveS them to
beg or to steal as the only other alterna-
tive" said the member, seriously. 1--WE
want a law to lock such wretcheS up.
They should be sent to the wOrkhouse
for a term, and their destitute families
should be given an allowance from their
earnings"
Here is a pitiful case" said Dr..
Ancker, picking up a memorandum
from his desk. ''May L give the name
to the reporter?'' he asked cautiously of
the board.
"Oh, yes, certainly; l can see no harm
in publishing it. Indeed, it may serve
as warning to other Scapegrace heads
of miserable families" agreed a mem
Der.
"WelI," resumed the doctor. sit is the
case of Mrs. Cramer. Her husband is
drunkard, and he has run away to West
Superior. She IS left to provide for six
children with no resources whatever.
We are giving her relief, and now she
wants to go to La Crosse, where she has
some relatives. There is no danger, it
is said, that the husband will ever
l.. L. 49, 70. = &c oil hn
got into some sort of a Scrape there
once that would make it decidedly warm
for him should he ever return"
While the reporter sat in the office of
the board, three different applications
were made for relief. One was from
Mrs. Peterson, of Minnehaha avenue.
She is a confirmed invalid, and her huS-
band is an inmate of the Rochester in
sane asylum. And incidentally she
said in broken English that she was
going to make an effort to get her hus-
band out.
Don't doit," urged Dr.Ancker. "He
is really dangerous, and he might XIII
you or some one else"
No." she answered, che will not kill
me, but kill himself, maybe"
The doctor and the members of the
board prevailed upon her not to make
an effort towards her release, and then
a liberal relief was given her for the
week.
Doctor, how are your patients in the
city hospital?" asked the reporter.
Are there many?"
mo; l am gratified that hospital bus
mess is very light just now. The few
patients we have there are doing
nicely" said the doctor. and he took
his carriage to make a professional call.