The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-30
Varied Career Of the New Super
intendent at Medical Lake.
Has Raa TAreugA Many Graaaaisns
Frea Preaching % Pelitics--De.
feated Overwhelmingly fer Mnyoe
Of spokane Dsrtag . Populise
fear-Naj. ReatAe ana Other ~.
stenists TAink Hin unas e soc.
ceea DR.. LeckAart = DeplsrsAas
state ef Aaairs NJ the Iastit~tisa
MANY Enplsyes 60 he neasvea.

Ssate 0K Auo1re NJ the INotttutlO0
MANY Enplsyes 60 he neaevoA.
Special Dispatch to the post-Inteilisencer.
SPOKANE June 2s.--The appointments Of
J. d. Mclean to the responsible position
OF superintendent of the Medical Lake
insane asylum has been the cause of
much adverse comment in this city during
the past two dayA With tho exception Of
limited number OF McLean.s political fol.
lowers in the Popu:ist ranks. the general
verdict Is that his appointment az super
i1tendent was ili-advfsed
Tho Post-Intelligencer representative to-
day called upon u number OF the leading
physicians OF this city TO learn their views
upon the fitness OF McI.ean's appointment,
but outside OF replying to the query with
suggestive smile. none desired to b
quoted. Privately. however. they COM
demncd the appointment. and one Of the
doctors remarked that 1T was idiotic.'s
Expelled rron the sssssty.
Continuing. he said:
ITO show you how he stsnds With the
profession here have only 20 refer you
to the records OF the Spokane County
Medical Society. He was charter mens-
her Of the society. organized IN lssx On
November 3. 1854 charges OF unprofes-
sional ccnduct were preferred against hin
and at special meeting held wreck later
and called for the special purpooe oe
hearing hts defense he was expe1lod ffogu
tho society. and has never been fatnstated.
Tue charges made against him WetHT-
violation Of sections ana I ~ article
- - 49, - x~R ~stf - 40 hz-.-
Medical Association. IN thar he advertised
and dispensed secret drug. which No
claimed was = sure euro for the opium
And liquor habits. Al tho meeting he ten
dered his resignation under fire. but Il
was refused. and he was expelled BY Z
vote Of the society,"
FFom the Ministry % Politics.
Dr. McI.ean's record In Spokane has been
varied one. He Was given diploma by
the Rush Medical college. OF chicago, In
1887. Before that he was preacher. Att
er receiving his diploma he returned 20
the ministry for a while, and, later. upon
coming here. returned TO the practice OF
medicine. which ne continued for about Q
year and a half. when he launched out o.
real estate agent. Subsequently he
drifted into politics and allied himself with
the .Fopulist party. becoming chairman Of
the Spokane county central committed In
the campaign OF 1894. when he was elected
coroner.
About the same time he started and edit
ed the Daily Tribune. rabid Popuiist or
gan. which inside of a year met with an
untimely desfh from lack Of support He
then was appointed county physician by
the Popuiist board OF county commission
~. a
Defeated for Mayor.
Two years ago he had an ambition 10
become mayor Of Spokane. and after an
acrimonious contest among the fustonfsts
he succeeded In securing the nomination
Notwithstanding that Spokane at that
time was Overwhelmingly for fusion he
was defeated In the election by DIR. Olm-
stead, who beat him by 100 votes. II was
shortly after this that he accepted the
appointment OF assistant superintendent ~
the asylum. having been defeated by Dr.
Lockhart for the appointment OF superin-
iendent
Another instance of his recognition Of his
own ineapacity az a physician II found In
the records Of the local lodge OF Royal
Arcssum Al the organization OF the
examining physician. Al a subsequent
meeting Of the lodge forty OF the app;i-
cants for membership approved by DR..
Mclean were rejected for The reason that
he had signed their applications .Dr. J. p.
Mclean. capitalist" And this Was AZ q
time when he was railing a. the capital
ssic power which he'd its grasp on the
threat OF the iaboring man. He boaxted
nj sne time that he had examined and
approved Of twenty-five applicants In two
hours
Many Think Hi@ last.
Ten days ago a leading fussoniss. Major
T.. A. Romshs. with others. circulated
petition 10 the governor asking him 70
nor appoint Mclean superintendent of ths
Medical Lake asyiam. but not aniicipss-
ing the sudden aftscn Of the board n audit
and centred In Masking the appointment.
The petition - Sill hire. and n is Doubt
saI IL ~ viii ever reseh the governor. ~
his hamy action In the matter has ~ In.
eenset the petitioners that they are no
longer on speakinx terms with the chief
executive.
The general trend OF opinion In this
city. gieAnet from canvass Of q number
of the leading citizens. irrespective %
parfy politics. b that DR.. Mclean II .
mar entirely unfit for the responsible po-
sifsoE 10 which be has been appointed
Toe Nsch Politics ~ Measssf Lske.
Ii n q matter of general kaowledxs
here that for some tins past the Medical
Lake asylum has bean = hothAA - nesA.