Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25
POLITICS INTRODUCED
A Queer Election of Emergency Hospital
Directors.
DIR. kerr's Friends Turned Down the
Old Ticket-Exciting Scenes
at the Election.

There was an election at the Emergency
Hospital yesterday afternoon to fill the
vacancies caused by the expiration of the
terms of office of ten members of the board
of directors. Heretofore these elections
have passed off quietly, and the old board,
which had worked so hard in the interest
of the institution, was always reelected.
Yesterday 1t was a different kind of an
election.
For the reason 1t need only be recalled
that there is a fight in the attending staff
of the hospital. Every member has ex-
pressed himself as opposed to DR.. James
Kerr, the surgeon-in-chief, and not long
ago a letter signed by them was sent to
DIR. Kerr requesting him to resign. DR..
Kerr, however, did Lot see it that way, and
charges were at once preferred by the at
tending staff, which are now in the hands
of an investigating committee.
Both DR.. Kerr and the opposition deter
mined to strengthen their positions by
capturing the election of directors yester-
day 1t is charged that DIR. Kerr has been
especially active in this work, although
charges of packing the meeting are made
by both sides.
Arranged n Plan.
Councils it is said, We're held by the Kerr
faction, and a plan of campaign decided
upon. Messrs. John B. Wight. the treasur-
err of the institution; j. Randall Webb, its
D.
been connected with the institution so long,
Byrd Harrison, who have labored faithfully
for the success of the hospital, were slated
to go. They had not declared themselves
in favor of DR.. Kerr, and must make room
for his friends. Therefore the old ticket
was scratched yesterday, and the names
of DIR. J. Foster Scott, DIR. ]. Wesley b.
wee. John Cassells, Gardiner G. Hubbard
and Thomas w. Smith were substituted,
and cket
with one exception. DIR. ]. Welsey Bovee
announced he was rot candidate, and
would not permit his name to be voted
upon. DIR. ]. F. Moran was substituted.
When the hour for meeting arrived the
large waiting room at the hospital was
packed A large number of men and wo-
ment not hitherto connected with the in
sttutiCn were present, and by paying the
stipulated 81 fee they were entitled to vote.
The Election.
President B. H. Warner of the board of
directors of the hospital was elected chair
man of the meeting without opposition, af-
ter Senator Gray had declined. Mr.. Warner
read the cal. for election, and explained
that only those who contributed the neces-
sary fee that day were eligible to vote.
Mr.. Calderon Carlisle spoke in favor of the
old board, and then Chairman Warner an
nounced the opening of the polls. There
was a scramble to pay the contribution in
order to vote. The Golfers of the institution
We're fattened by a large number of 81 bills.
over $1,000 was SO contributed. During the
election the scene more reSembled a ward
political meeting than anything else.
When the polls We're declared open Chair
man Warner announced the tellers DR..
ID. X. Shute, Archibald Hopkins, John A.
Baker, John Davis and Mrs Mary r.
Church Mr.. ]. r. Jones was unanimously
selected as secretary. The tellers adjourned
to the board room to count the votes. In
their absence those remaining discussed
the situation al libitum, and DIR. Kerr was
severely criticised for the part he had
taken IN the matter. Chairman Warner
was also berated. but he declared his hon
esty of purpose, and said he was unfamiliar
with the case. Some of the converse tons
were very bitter, and personal encounters
were several times narrowly averted.
Successful Ticket.
At length, after being out several hours,
the tellers returned and announced the re-
suit. The following ticket was elected: DIR.
ID. w. Prentiss, DR.. J. Ford Thompson,
Dr.. j. Foster Scott, DR.. ]. F. Moran, b. Fl.
Warner John Cassells, Mrs. ]. A. Hawley,
Gardiner G. Hubbard, w. c. Wittemore,
T. W.sSm.th.
The result was received in silence. The
success of the opposition ticket places on
the board of directors the friends of Dr.
Kerr, who will stand by him in an emer-
genCy. 1t was stated that several of the
gentlemen elected would decline to serve
in view of the methods said to have been
TesOrted to.