The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-16
DIR. ANDREWS, STATEMENT.

DIR, ANDREWS STATEMENT.
Editor of Tie Tribune:
Seeing that the board of directors of
the Lackawanna hospital are not anil
mated by that sense Of justice which one
man owes to another and that they are
evidently afraid to give me a chance to
state my case before them. have decid-
ed that my only vindication now will be
through the pressure OF pubic opinion.
For this reason / have decided to make
known the facts regarding my removal
from the institution.
Several months ago a patient in my
ward developed erysipelas, a contagious
disease, and according to rule was iso-
lated. Before being entirely cured, the
attending physician was suddenly called
out OF town, leaving the case entirely to
me. The very next day discovered that
the patient had been removed to the
ward by the superintendent, Miss Krae-
mer, without orders. I instantly de-
manded that she should be taken back
to the isolation room, as she was still In
a condition to infect others. The SUPER
intendent refused to send her back and
she remained in the ward for two days
until the attending physician returned,
thus risking the lives Of the patients in
that ward. The staff physician on his re-
turn upheld my course and demanded
Immediately done, but from that time On
trouble brewed.
A few weeks ago I received q letter
from James p. Dickson, president of the
board of directors, the contents of whicn
were made known in Tho Tribune of the
14th inst, dem andlng that I sever my
conneotion with the hospital at once.
This / declined to do, telling Mr.. Dickson
that the board that appointed me alone
had the power to dismiss me. He denied
this, saying II have supreme authority,
the board has nothing to do with It," He
made a similar statement to one Of the
daily papers.
He refused to make the charges against
me in writing. / then wrote to the board
demanding immediate investigation. This
was promised, but postponed on several
occasions. I then left the city with Dr.
Gilbart, who had resigned in the mean
time. wrote again, on my return home,
to. Mr.. Dickson, demanding that the
charges against me be presented in writ
ing. received the following from him:
Dear Doctor: Your favor of the 31st
July only reached me here this morning
AS regards the reasons for which you
were asked to leave the hospital 1 gave
them to You verbally and can see no rea-
son for reducing them to writing as I
told you IL am perfectly willing for you
to lay your case before the directors, but
as further told you 1t was impossible to
get sufficient number of the board to-
gether to make quorum, and a meet
ing without a proper number would be
useless as no business could be trans
acted. Our regular monthly meeting will
be on the second Friday of this month
QSth fnsO. AT this season Of the year
when SO many are absent from town !
cannot promise a meeting, but we shall
endeavor to have one, and in case we do
I shall be very glad to have you present
and full investigation made. Very truly
yours, James p. Dickson,
President Board Of Directors, Lacka-
wanna Hospital
Having received no notice to the con-
trary l started to Scranton and Travelled
several hundred miles at considerable
expense for the express purpose of meet
ing the directors and obtaining a fair
trial. Having noticed the loop hole Mr.,
Dickson made in his letter, through which
a very small man could crawl, I was not
so very much surprised to learn that
ne had left town, and no meeting of the
directors had been called.
then saw Mr.. Elsie, the secretary of
the board. He professed great surprise
that 1 had not waited until he had no.
tihed me. then told him of my let
ter from the president, and he admitted
That did right in coming, particularly
when reminded of the presidents "su-
preme authority" In the presence of
several persons Mr.. Eisele admitted that
he would not treat any person in his en-
ploy as I had been treated, but he also
said: 'Tf I should dismiss any man and
found later that had been unjust,
should never take him back" When l
told the secretary that, in my opinion,
the board was afraid to give me a chance
to defend himself, and that Mr. Dickson
was out of town for this reason, he
simply said; well, you must admit that
MT. DICKSON is very cunning man."
In Sinking out of town to avoid an
Investigation. which. If honestly conduct
ed would clear a mans reputation, the
board of directors have dshonored them.
selves, and the Lackawanna hospital with
an ignominious breach of faith. One
man claims supreme authority" his
colleagues then cringe before him and
| allow him to do as he pleases. This is
the kind of an institution tax payers are
| supporting. An institution run by one
man, and that man following the advice
OF a woman, who is governed by hel
likes or dislikes, and to whom the good
OF an institution is nothing when com.
| pared with a chance to crafty a petty
spite or personal ambition.
Having repeatedly tried to vindicate
| myself, and having been foiled at every
| attempt by INSCRIPTIONS persons. who
consider young mans reputation moth.
| ing, when there is a possibility that thei,
own may suffer, will have nothing more
to do with the matter. believing as
do that any investigation now would
| simply be cloak to cover up their owr
tracks. Doubtless most of the board, as
individuals, are perfectly honorable men
| be this as 1t may, ii does not remove
| from their shoulders the grave responsi
bility OF allowing any one man to have
supreme authority" to do as he please,
in an institution which is supported bl
| the public. j. II, Andrew. NJ ID
Scranton, Pa, Aug. II.