The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03
STIRRED Up THE DUCI5jRR55
PUBLICATION IN MEDICAL SOCI-
ETY'S OFFICIAL PAPER CAUSES
MUCH DISPLEASURE
SOCIETY AVOIDED POLITICS
Why the Five Men Selected to Run
the Paper Broke Loose at
This Time Is What
Is Hurting.

Members of the Ramsey County Medi-
cal society were both surprised and
chagrined to read, in the current num-
Der of the ST. Paul Medical Journal a
lengthy editorial laudato. v of DR.. Anoker,
the present head of the county hospital.
The editorial in question states that the
administration of DR.. Ancker during tie
time he has held his position, has been
highly satisfactory, and says that the
board of control will make a grave mis-
take unless it elects him his own sue
cesSor. To add to the displeasure OF
some of the doctors, the Pioneer Press
reproduced the salient points of the ed
torial in the Medical Journal in an edi-
torial and accompanied them with COM
ment in a similar vein yesterday morn
ing.
The st. Paul Medical Journal, it will
be remembered, was started some yca1 s
ago as the official organ of the Ramsey
County Medical association, and was
designed primarily as vehicle for the
dissemination of the higher medical opin-
ion Of the county. 1t was the intention
of its founders to hold the paper aloof
from politics of every kind and to make
it simply a journal for the general prac-
titioner. The present deviation from the
principles on which the paper is sup
posed to be based is, therefore, not en-
urely pleasing and bids fair to cause Il
storm at the next meeting of the society.
While it IS generally admitted that DR..
AnckerS executive administration of af-
fairs at the county hospital has been
fairly satisfactory, the society is divided
in its individual preference as to whether
or not DR.. Ancker is deserving of re-
election this spring. But apart from
their wishes for a change there are many
members of the Ramsey County Med:-
cal society who are wondering how and
rNFt,, H.
derived their authority for the publica-
ton Of the article referred to above.
They are both surprised and indignant
and the matter will not be allowed to
drop where t is at present.
AS a matter of fact, it is stated. on
what appears to be good authority, that
there are fever members of the society
in favor of the retention of Dr. Anckcr
than ever before, but their code of ethics
checks them when it comes to taking
an open stand in the matter. That the
editorial III the Pioneer Press will have
the effect of assisting DR.. Ancker Is
doubtful certain people sally that
the utterance in his favor in that paper
was not inspired by wholly disinterestei
II olives.
Four years ago, when two physicians,
not members of the society, were after
the position, the society refused to in
Gcrse DIR. Ancker. 1t is therefore more
amazing to some of them that at this
time when two aspirants are members
OF the society. the Official organ shoud
take sides III the matter. That's the rub.
This much is certain: The board of
control has three candidates for the posi-
ton now held by DR.. Ancker, and may
possibly have more. All the candidates
now in the field are men of recognized
ability and that they are held in high
repute by the members of the county
medical society.