New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-25
DR. JENKINS'S NEW ROLE.
HE LIKENS HIMSELF TO PROMEIHECS'
A SUGGESTION, HOWEVER. THAT HE is TIE
vULTURE INsTEAD-PEOuD OF THE
rXFMITS HE HAS MADE.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE1


Washington Feb. 24.-Dr. William I. jenkins. the
aHora,ius. Of the staten Island Quarantine. tns been
stimulated BY some recent criticisms OF his ontlal
acts appearing In "Tlc Washington Post TO S"hd ID
the editor OF that paper most remarkable cohh""i'
cation In his defence. This Defence IN the form
Of a 4ooword telegram. was published in yesterdays
issue OF "The Post" and thc tone OF some o. It's
passages NAV or may not surprise thos" p'opi" III
New. Yorl; who have followed DR.. Jcnklns's career
"From the editorial cited" saws Dr.. jenkins.
addressing The Editor OF The POST" al presume you
are n Republican. We never have anticipated giving
satisfaction 10 Republicans or those who had 10
undergo quarantine
al have no desire" the Doctor continues 10
enter into controversy. because ] do not own any
space on any editorial page. and am therefore ~
the disadvantage Of n chained victim at TIRE mercy
OF a cowardly enemy who would take an advantage
under these circumstances. ! might use the ce''"
brated picture Of Promotions bound and inc Vn'"''
preying upon his vitals TO Illustrate the relations DC
tween myself and the petty. nasty filings OF partisan
press History knows lower or more con''mp'ipIe
cncmv tLan he who attacks man through his family
relations particularly where there are women IN
volved Do not think Fiat ask for ans cohSluer"
tion at your any one clscs hands IN '"iS nI'"''
7 am nroud Of the enemies have made as Dem"
crat. For those ! have made as proleSNioh"i MAJ"
II any aside from politics. have sincere regret
Commenting on this extraordinary ouibnrS' OF ran"
rsss ord c,ossicalism en- the part Of New-iorks
euorotius, or n You please. Prome helS,' =" Inc
Post" saws: DR. Jenkins himself admits lar more 'n'n
THE POST ever thought OF charging against MN Witch
no saws: we have never anticipated giving sausfac-
ZION To Republicans Our idea Of the Doctor has
ALWAYS been that he Is honestly incompetent. meaning
we'll enough. no doubt. hut disqualified by want III
knowledge and experience. and bv the hhcrehN
vicious nature Of the system of which he Is COM
ponept part. We have held the opinion mat ''e
quarantine establishment Of great seapor'S Hike Ne"
York should be emNncipatef from the control ana
even from the Influences Of local politics so that
scientific and uniform plan of National pfo'ecuoh
might be adopted and enforced To this end we nave
advocated tho National Quarantine law. and incl
dentay the suppression or subOrdnaton OF JchhihS'
But now comes the Doctor in burst Of conf'
dence confesslng that there is another ana sun more
urgent reaso why and his system should be aboi-
,shed We have never anticipated giving satiSiac-
ton to Republicans the ingenious Doctor Ills
most malevolcnt critic could not have made more
powerful argument against him. When the Heanh
OfHcer Of n seaport HE New York rpon the aUin'E
and integrity Of whose administration depend inc
safety Of millions Of people and tlc welfare OF an
immea surable commerce. deliberately states that he
IS running things to please political organization
meaning, in New York Tammanv Hall. and ho'hlhS
ese-is Il not high time 10 devise quarantine system
that will produce health officers with other IDEAS OF
duty and different rules of conduct?
We think at rate. II occurs to US.
further. that by Dr. Jenkins's own admission II Is
not he but the commerce and the health Of New
York and, indirectly. OF the Nation at large tia'
fave been PLAYING the part 81 PromctheuS in TINS
affair. Now that the Doctor introduces the griSly
old mytll-rather unfortunately for himself II seems
we remember that the birds of prey had pretty
soft snap IN the monopoly Of PrometheuSs vital
organs until Hercules drove them away. when they
few into a temper very closely resembling that which
Dr. Jenkins CONVEYS to by telegraph-'H Frank BOB
FINALLY we assure DR.. jenkins that we Know
nothing OF the petty. nasty filings Of partisan press
in connection with him. so far as we have seen
Democratic Republ can Mugwlimp lndepondent ana
rOrdcscr1pt papers have united lovingly IN bearing
witness 10 his inedeQuacy. and In advocating measure
which Will curtail his opportunity OF giving sa'is
faction TO TaInmany at the expense Of the rest OF
the rountry. There has been nothing partisan ah0W
the opposition to quarantine system when ak-s
pride in being obnoxious IL RepnDncais. ana a
Health Officer who clOrcs In tho enemies he has made
as Democrat DR.. Jenkins Is not martyr, what
ever else he may be