The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-04
Thompson Bros,
6o6 KANSAS AVFNTIR
626 KANSAS AVENUE.

but few fully understand. It can be
truly said of you that your work Is
never done
But of all the exacting duties that
fall to your lot to perform, none re-
Quire so much careful attention, wise
discrimination and broadly philanthropy
lie and humane adjudication as those
which relate to the care and treatment
of our state charities. There are now
about five thusand human lives, unfor-
tunate and woefuIly neglected, in our
state charitable institutions.
we take a great pride in referring to
these institutions as our state charlta-
BILE institutions and we are proud of
the advance that has been made in the
methods of treatment and care of the
physically and mentally sick, the poor,
the blind and the feeble-minded. The
nineteenth century may we'll be proud
of it's humanitarian hospitals, asylums,
retreats and homes. But to make the
care of the unfortunate sick of our
state the reward for political services,
as it has been in the past, we regard
as an abomination, utterly fncongruous
with the highest humanitarian princi-
pies of this century. To parcel out and
bestow the various positions in our
state charitable institutions for Valua-
BILE political services rendered, or to be
rendered, is an outrage upon decency,
a traveSty upon philanthropy.
I'VE appeal to your eXcellency to
brush away this stain upon our state.
Do not suffer the leaders of our politi-
capital for their cause by reckoning as
one of the spoils of the victorious party
the various positions in our state char
liable institutions. 1t is we'll known to
all who have made even a cursory eX-
animation into these matters that great
harm is done these institutions in the
change of every administration. Men
and women who nave no claim except
that of having supported the new ad-
ministration in the primaries and at the
polls, and in no wise especially fitted or
capable. are placed in charge of our
states unfOrtunates. As expressed by
one of our brightest physicians, who
had given much time and thought to
the matter, These institutions seem to
be an asylum for people who are una
BILE to make living in any other man
ner.' They assume control of them
without any special training, many of
them too old to learn new ideas, and
many too young They depose a set of
persons, at the beginning equally un-
learned, who, after two or more years,
have just begun to profit by their blum
ders. And thus the most unfortunate
of our people, being wholly unable and
incapacitated from choice, most deserv-
ing of our tenderest and best care, re-
ceive at our hands treatment which is
a burlesque on charity and disgrace
to humanity.
UNLESS state medicine be divorced
from politics, and all appointments,
medical and otherwise, to our state in
situations be forever separated from
the spoils system of politics, and be
made and controlled by civil service
rules and methods we can never hope
to hold up our heads in Christian civili
cation, but must forever bury our faces
in shame and disgrace.
1--WE demand of you, your eXcellency,
that this malady of our body polite be
properly treated: that the unhealthy
surroundings be removed, and after the
administration of the proper remedy,
the best of nursing and care be be-
slowed upon your state our people.
until in the fullness of good health we
may be able to rejoice and give praise"
Music by Watson'S orchestra, an or
iginal poem by DIR. H. w. Roby and
three medical papers followed the ad-
dresses. The first paper was read by
DR.. J. B Alexander on Public Santa
ton of the Villages and Towns of the
Level Plains of Kansas" the second by
Dr. ]. w. May on Pure Food and
Water Supply and DR.. w. b. Swan
closed the programme with a paper on
Sanitary Reform
The three medical societies are hold
ing separate meetings today.
HOMEOPATHS MEETING.
The thirty-first annual meeting of
the Homeopathic Medical society of
Kansas is being held at Library hall.
The first business meeting was held
Wednesday afternoon.
This morning the meeting was caIled
oorder by the vice president, Dr. Will
liam B. Swan of Topeka. There was
fair attendance.
After some routine business was
transacted, Dr. w. T. DUN u EAAAlS-
man, Kan, read a paper What I
Know About Fitting Glasses" He
urged the necessity of testing the eye
sight of all school children. The paper
developed a lively discussion and was
highly commended.
In the same department DR.. H. F.
Fisher, of Kansas City, read a paper
on "Corneal Ulcerations," which was
well received.
DR.. S. c. Delap, the we'll known eye
and ear specialist. of Kansas City, was
to have read a paper today, but was
called away. He will deliver the paper
Friday morning. his subject being, "A
Primer on Aural Disease, for the Ply
sician.'
This afternoon the programme will be
continued as follows:
''Hystero- Epilepsy NJ. Hutch
inson, of Hutchinson. Kan
Static Electricity Therapeutic
Agent''-Dr. ]. D. Childs, Eudora.
Bureau of Materia Medica-Eva Hard
ing, NJ. D., chairman. Topeka
Bureau of Chemistry, Pharmacy and
Provings-C- F. Menninger, NJ. D., chair
man. Topeka.
Bureau of Pediatrics-M. W. Cowan, NJ.