Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-28
FIFER'S FRIENDS.
They are not Among the Physi-
clans of the State.
AN INSULT TO THE PROFESSION

AN INSULT III THE PkOt ESSlUN.
His Inconsistency In the appointment of
ofsurgeon General of the state Militia
Ignoring Military Customs and Disci-
pline He Goes Outside the Ranks to Rec
ognire Another school of Medicine.
The Journal of the America Medical
association, published at Chicago, in its
issue OF July Is last, contained the fol-
lowing:
The Surgeon General of Illinois.
We heor and read SO much in these
degenerate days, of tie improvement and
degenerate days. of the improvement and
publication of the public service, but it
has been reserved Cor the present COVER
nor of Illinois to show the estimate
placed upon professional ability and ex-
perience by a thorough going politician
The telegraph informs Us that q young
graduate of the Hshnamaun class Of 1887
has been appointed surgeon general by
hi. excellency, Governor Fifer. to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of General
Matthews. The action OF the governor
in selecting ttis inexperienced youag
person for so important = position IL in
explicable on ordinary grounds. but in
common with many others, We are OF the
opinion that the governors sincere desire
TO secure the finest military medical tall
emit" in the ate for surgeon general,
will receive at the polls in November
that rebuke at the hands of the profess
son. which such INSTRUCTED action war
rants.
The Medical Profession Incensed.
While the old school ply sicisns OF the
state. in keeping with the ethics Of the
medical profession. have not given publ
city to their views on this action of the
governor in deliberately rebuking the
Alapa,hic school of medicine. the prscli-
TONERS belonging to that branch of the
profession are without an exception in-
censed at the state executives action.
They are not indignant because the gov
ernor has seen Il, to recognize an oppo-
site school Of medicine. but because be
has put himself ont. and violated all
rules as to precedent and military custom
and discipline to rebuke the Ole school
The facts Of the case may be briefly
stated: Upon the death of
DR.. Matthews. who was surgeon
general. he should by all the rules of
military usage have been succeeded by
the elevation Of ranking officer. Maj.
Streeter. of Chicago. surgeon of the
Firs, brigade. was by virtue of his rank
entitled to the succession, but
could not take it, it is under
stood had it been offered him,
which it was not. and next to
HIM in rank was Maj Garter. of this city.
surgeon of the Second brigade. The
governor, however. did not look to the
state militia to ill vacancy in it's ranks
by elevating an enlisted officer who had
risen to position emitting him to the
post of honor The governor
did not care to promote an old
school physician. He preferred rather to
confer any honors in his be-
stowsl the Homeopathic
branch of the medical pro-
fession, and hence DR. Vincent of
Springfield was named. This is the ais
tory Of the case. and the indignation on
the part Of the old school physicians at
the attitude of the governor Of the state
in going out OF his way 10 administer
slap at the school to which they belong is
q very natural consequence
Official Inconsistency.
In decides contrast with the governors
sc,ion in this respect is the position as
sumed by him in the appointment OF
ms jor general of The state militia. Il will
be remembers that two officers of the
militia were candidates for promotion
One was Col Barckley of Springfield.
and tie other was Col. William
Clendenin of Moline. The former was
appointed by tee governor. who held
that he was obliged in Difference to mill
tary practices to elevate the ranking OIL
Ger. and that Col. Barley ranked the
higher Of the two. and furthermore that
Moline aud this part of the state had all
it was entitls d TO in the appointment of
Col. HI alma Kohler. of Molina, to the
exalted position as member OF bis staff.
The fact that both DR.. Vincent and Col.
Barley are from Springfield is another
evidence of the governors consistency.
geographically speaking, fact which
incidentally indicates pretty strongly
that that little ring down at Springfield
has exsrted q powerful influence over his
excellency IN all his official acts, to the
total disregard Of all other sections OF the
state. all rules Of military psrlance and
all the observances of common courtesy
Ramsay.