Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-01-28
THE HOSPITAL.
A Statement of Facts Concerning the
Hospital Movement.


, an article written by Thomas ROBINSON
the undersigned desire 10 call attention 10
AM correct some OF that gentleman's state
men,s in reference to the Hospital ques-
tion.
In the first place let it be known that
the popular aud beneficent movement that
has been inauguratei and is now being
carried forward to success by the ladies OF
Butler tor.the establishment of General
Hospital in this place meets with the ap-
proyal of all our citizens, the subscribers
hereto not knowing of anyone who objects,
with the exception of this one man, Thos.
Robinson.
About two months ago the ladies gave
public notice in the local press and from
the various church puipits OF call tor a
General meeting which all interested in
| the establishment of hospital were ear
uestly invited to attend for the purpose OF
deyisine wavs and means for securing a
hospital. The public meeting was held IN
IY. NC. A. Hall and largely attended by
the ladies. Plans we're discussed and ad-
opted at this meeting for the carrying on
| of the project in view, and subsequent
meetings were held for completing an Or
ganizstion for the active work. Soliciting
committees were appointed and put 10
work Immediately TO secure subscriptions
20 the hospital fund. Their unbounded
success in obtaining liberal subscriptions
seems to have come to the notice OF Mr..
Robinson, who at once set to Work 10 re-
surrect the charter and all else belong
ing to the defunct hospital association,
and to the surprise OF many oil the IadleS
who were actively engaged In the new
work and utterly ignorant of the existence
of such an organization, iutruded upon
them the claims of the old association.
The ladies courteously recognized the
old organization by appointing commit
tee of their own to confer with similar
committee of the old association. AT
these conferences il was clearly developed
that the old board had nothing whatever
TO offer the ladies but charter that was
in many respects Objectionable, no sub
scrjotions, no site-and it was so utterly
devoid of life that several members of its
board declared that they never attended
meeting of the board after its organization
were under the impression that the organ-
izatlon had ceased to exist, and signifled
a willingness to allow the ladies to 20 on
uninterrupted ia their good work, assur-
ing them OF their hearty cooperation. One
of them, who is An abls lawyer, assured
the ladies that it would be less trouble
some to obtain new charter than to se-
cure the amendments of the old instru-
ment, and advised them to pursue the for
mer course.
At the last conference of the committee
| il being manifested to both sides that two
separate organizations could not succeed,
the president of the ladies' association
proposed this question: IF we retire now
and give the old association clear field.
will YOU take mp the work and carry 1T out
| 70 a successful issuei" To this question
no reply was made. Even the president
| Of the old board, when ssked if he thought
the ladies would meet with any opposition
| from his ASSOCIATION should they continue
| to work independently, replied in most
emphatic manner ~ believe voice The
sentiment of my honorec colleague wnen
| I say that not straw will be placed IN
your way, and we bid you GOd-spced IN
This noble rorEg With these assurances
| emsnating from such reliable and aa
tnoritive source, the ladies decided 10
proceed in their efforts as originally in
tended by them.
In the meantime the fact became known
to the public that conferences we're being
| held between the new ard old organlza-
| tiona and the effect was such that the
/ soliciting committees we're obliged TO
| cease work because OF their inability to se-
| cure further subscriptions until 1t was de-
| fipitely understood that their efforts Were
| not being made in behalf OF the old or
| ganization and under the old charter.
| These apprebensions were removed as
soon az the ladies made publication OF ap-
| plication for new charter and let IL De
| known that their intention was 20 proceed
| in the work according to their original
! design The generous responses to their
| appeal for subscriptions already attest the
| popularity OF the movement as carried on
| by the ladies.
| This is truthful statement Of facts
regarding the hospital question, and in
our opinion should remove all doubt and
prejudice that may exist in the minds OF
| those who may have been wrongly inform
| No one knows better than Mr.. Robinson
| that all mis- efforts gut forth in the last
| four years to secure hospital in Butler
| have proved complete failure. His bill
| foe an appropriation was vetoed by the
| Governor, as we under stand on the ground
that there was nothing tangible in the
shape Of subscriptions and site upon
which TO base claim. And no one knows
| better than Mr.. Robinson that when he
presents his bill again on the same basis as
| above (as he has declared he intends toy
| he will again meet with defeat and at the
same time, il his purpose is carried out, be
| the means of defeating an appropriation
| tharwill be applied for by the ladies.
Therefore, take notice, that if Mr.. Thos.
| Robinson successfully interferes in the way
indicated, Butler county will obtain 10
appropriation for hospital, and he will be
to blame for depriving the people o. this
| aid.
Mr. Robinson also intimat es something
about division on the subject. Aside
| from him. there Is no division. The young
| ladies referred to in the different churches
| who were interested in the work OF the old
organization, are now much more 1opeinl.
| ly interested in the present movement aud
are in hearty sympathy with it. Prominent
| representatives oil their number have so ex-
| pressed themselves. and are ready to or
| ganize aud cooperate as auxiliary to the
Woman's Hospital Association as soon as
| their services are needed.
| IL is to be hoped that Mr.. Robinson will
reconsider his purpose and refrain from
| further opposition to a movement begun
| and now well on the way to success tor the
| establishment and maintenance of hoepi
| tai for Butler and Butler county.
The hearty cooperation Of every citizen
| IL invited in the est ablishment Of hospi-
| tai. general both in name and character,
non-sectarian and non partisan, "by the
| people and for the people"
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. @. 9. BRANDON. Pres,
MRS. s. M. MCKEE, Vice Pres,
MRS. J. ). CAMPBELL, Treas,
| Mrs. M. T.. TRoUTMAY. Cor. Sec,
Mrs. Il. B. HERR, Rec. Sec,
Mas. II GRIEB,
Executive Board OF the Woman's Hospi-
| tai Association.
W. Il. MECHLIEG,
Sec'y and Director of Old Board.
j. Ii. yBoUTMAH,
Treas. and Director Of Old Board.
j. Ia. NEGLEY,
Jos. RoCKESSTEIN,
Directors Of OLD Board.
| GOVERNOR Hastings declares that there
are more than 400 special road laws 10 The
Slate and before general road improve.