The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-06-28

paper that makes specially Of ex-
| plotting sick and suffering human
ity through publication Of ridicu-
lous claims and testimonials Of al
legged "healers" was thrown into
prominence in Judge Sullivan's
court yesterday afternoon when the
case of the medical association
against Lajoie and Johnson was
heard.
These self-alleged wonder-work-
ers advertise ability to cure about
every ailment under the sun by
rubbing the sufferer on the back.
They call this chiropractice, some
thing that has no standing in medi-
| cal science. However serious or
| battling the disease, this chiro-
| practice outfit boldly claims to be
able to cure it without drugs or op-
GRAFTON. They simply rub your
back as you might stroke pussy
cat, and 10, you are healed!
The principal medium for giving
publicity to this sort of stuff has
been the Spokane Chronicle. In or
der to make necessary proof that
the defendants had advertised
themselves as doctors, Attorney w.
T. Birdsall, for the association, yes
terday subpoenaed Thomas Hooker,
business manager Of the Chronicle,
| the summons calling also for the
production in court Of contracts,
| bills, papers, etc, showing business
transactions between the chiro-
practors (whatever that is) and the
paper
| Mr.. Hooker appeared in court
with copies of his paper called for,
the contract and crouch at being
thus troubled. Then developed l
Of the most astonishing expositions
of ignorance ever seen in court. 1t
rivaled the ignorance of a trust
magnate when indicted for illegal
manipulation.
Mr. Hooker admitted that he was
business manager of the Chronicle
and had general supervision over
the business department Of the
publication.
But he did not know for certain
that the Chronicle had ever had
business relations with the defen.
dants. He did not know who exc
cuted the chiropraotice advertising
contract. He did not know who
paid for It; didn't know who re.
ceived the money II 1t was actually
paid into his office. He didnf
know II any entries OF such pay
ments were made on the books. He
didn't know how the advertisement
got into the paper; couldn't remem-
Der ever having seen 1t. Although
the ads covered whole pages, Mr..
Hooker, business manager Of the
Chronicle, did not know where they
came from or anything about them.
For all that developed from his
testimony he holds his position for
what he does not know rather than
for what he does.
Mr.. Roche, an advertising solicit
tor for the Chronicle, was equally
ignorant in severa! respects, and
even more ridiculously SO. He adj
mitted procuring the Lajoie &
Johnson contract. but he did not
know who signed 1t, when it was
signed or anything more about 1t
He couldn't say that the signature
had been written by either of the
"healers" his paper has been hold
ing up in big letters as a Godsend
to the sick and afflicted.
| Evidently advertising contracts
calling for payment of $1,260, the
amount named, simply occurred to
him by mysterious process which
he was unable to fathom. Nobody
connected with the Chronicle in
court knew anything about collect
ing the account. Payment also oc
Cured to them by the same mex
plicable method governing the ad
vertising. And they humbly &C
cepted such favors and inquired M
further 1t seems to have beer
merely another demonstration O.
the miraculous methods followed
by the "healers."
But the truth of the matter II
this: The newspaper that pander,
to such class of advertising To-
the money 1t can get out of 1t. re
CARELESS of the principles of in
tegrity, is bound by the same con
tract to protect the illegal methods
IL offers as genuine. To secure thii
advertising a assurance must b,
conveyed that the advertisers b,
mot exposed when they are sum