New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-22
HOSPITAL NURSES IN POLITICS
THE POLITICAL SITUATION TO-DAY is
A MORAL ONE
GOOD CLEAN. HONORABLE. NON PARTISAN
RULE NOT MlsRULg. Is WHAT THE

GOOD. CLEAN. HONORABLE. NON PARTISAN
RULE NOT MIsRtI.g Is WHAT THE
CITY NEEDS"
The clubhouse Of the Metropolitan Trained
Nurses Association. al No 1oi West Forty
threw open its doors to the Womans Muncipa!
League yesterday afternoon. and the subject OF
good city government and the candidates OF the
Citizens Union were ably discussed for the benefit
Of a large audience. The Bellevue Alumni. which
was in session at the hospital early IN the after
noon. adjourned in order attend the meeting In
a body at o'clock. Miss Void. chief nurse In the
nurses settlement In Henry-st. and a member OF
the Executive Board Of the Woman's Municipal
League was In the chair The table which she
welded the gaveI handsomely decorated with
a large OF pink roses and stringcd instru-
ments discoursed sweet sounds from some hidden
recess
There were three speakers. Dr. F. p. Kennicuts.
Charles b. Spaler and Mr.. Leavitt. Miss Wolf
made a few Introductory remarks before she pre-
scented the speakers. She said the political situa-
ton to-day a moral one, and that II became
the duty OF all women to use their influence In
accomplishing the realization OF their ideals In pub
lie life. No other group Of women, she said had
felt the influence Of political life more keenly than
the nurses. She recounted the times when the most
cherished designs Of aItruists had been frustrated
because Of the power Of evil-mnded people. who
had been placed n authority by the vote OF the
people.
control of politics better than physicians did
What the city needs" he said. rs good. clean.
honora BILE non-partsan rule. and not misrule. MY
experience with Tammany ruler dates back
many years. when the hospital stan at
Bellevue | hardly describe the condition Of
affairs that existed at that time. There every
sort of abuse of the laws of sanitation. The rooms
were badly ventilated and the food served by
criminals. At that time a band Of devoted women
in the city asked permission Of the Charity Com
mission TO supply the hospital with a body Of
nurses, and, instead of the offer being received
with alacrity. the authorities objected and offered
all of reasons why the plan not feasible
They said the inquisitive and
jealous. and that Bellevue had all the that
were required.
"The young doctors on the staff favored the ac-
ceptance Of the offer and lost their heads thereby.
head being saved by contracting a
severe Illness that made my resignation Imperative.
Every step toward reform has been fought for ]
well remember Of one being shocked at
the low temperature OF the wards in the winter
that she offered TO put up stoves also recall how
the politician in power bestrred himself and had
stoves put up. and then for her to and
behold the evidences of his humanity Put going
into ward where she was not expected to go she
found the place cold ever his only idea being
| 10 curry favor with the reform movement.
1T Is n practical tribute to the present admin
stration that the streets Of the poor are kept as
clean the streets Of the rich. Statistics show
warm weather now than II was before the present
administration. The mothers appreciate this, and
| they bless Colonel Warning.
The speaker then calleu attention TO Seth Low $
| attitude toward the medical profession and their
| work As the head Of the medical department OF
Columbia College he was In sympathy with all hos
| pial work. You and L.. he concluded his address
| 10 the nurses whose aid IL directed 10 the poor
and the sick and the helpless should stand together
| TO elect who would make our task more
complete"
Mr. Spaler gave number OF logical reasons why
l every right minded man should vote for Mr.. Low.
! He denounced machine politics. Republican well
| as Democratic, and favored n-partsanship gov
eminent that would regulate the business of the
city according to business methods.
| Mr. Leavitt said the trouble with politics had
| been always that II WAS founded upon trickery.
| The Citizens Union wants IL founded sincerity.
| We have had a very low idea Of what citizenship
| meant. Ever since the war We have been suffering
| with kind OF torpor. and for twenty-five years
| our country has been in the hands OF It's enemies
Politicians have committed crimes against law and
I order In the Of law and order He said the
better element OF the community responsible.
| because had reason TO expect greater things
! from them and get nothing. With them politics
| was not the fashion. He thought women could see
| through many Of the political tricks better than
| men could and as women were always for better
conditions irrespective OF craftsmanship he had faith
In women as voters because they couldn't be fooled
| male voters.
| Mrs r. NJ willard. the president Of the Trained
! Nurses Club then rendered the speakers vote OF
| hanks and invited the guests to inspect the
nurses' clubhouse. OF which the members have rea-
| son 10 be proud.