The San Francisco call., 1908-10-21
VOWINCKEL SCORED
BY FORMER TRUSTEE
c. E. Worden Says California
WOman's Hospital Should
Be Open to All Physicians
Friends of Charitable Institu-
tion Work for Radical Change
In Management

Quoted on businesslikc baSle, III VIII
be q credit 10 the city and state, in
stead of as IL is now, disgrace TO 1ts
founder, that great, good man, DE.
W. w scott.r-Statement by Clinton
f. WOnden.
Aroused to indignation by the man
ner in which the affairs Of the Califor-
MIA women's hospital have been con-
Quoted. several OF the city's most prom
inent citizens have become interested IN
the fight to recover the institution from
the absolute control of Dr. f. w. Vo-
vrinckel and devote il to the chari-
table purposes for which it was origi-
nally founded Clinton f. Worden,
well known in San Francisco's bust
ness world. and for years friend Of
the institution with several Of his as
sociates, has enlisted on the side OF the
investigating committee, and yester-
day vigorously denounced the persons
who have been responsible for the pres
ent condition Of affairs at the hospital.
From the present outlook it is ap-
parent that the administration VIII
have TO take favorable action on the
report Of the investigating cemmittee,
throwing the hospital open to all repu-
table physicians, or legal steps VIII be
taken 10 have the property revert TO
the city. This action will be taken on
-
voted 10 charitable purposes the prop
erty is being used for the aggrandize-
ment OF DR.. Vowinckel.
for years Clinton Z Worden was a
member Of the board of trustees of the
institution, and since his resignation
has taken an active interest in its af-
fairs 1t was learned yesterday that
he had followed the present contro-
versy very carefully. and had signi-
fed his intention of doing everything
possible to break the monopoly on this
public institution. When asked for a
statement he said:
COMMITTEE WAS NIGHT
From my knowledge of what went
on in that hospital when 1 was a MEM
Der Of the board of trustees l am con-
vinced that Mrs Powers and the in
vestigating committee are absolutely
right The present case is merely a
repetition Of the experience had by the
board Of trustees and board Of lady
managers which directed the affairs of
mat institution up until January 80,
That institution should certainly
not be monopolized by one man. 1t
should be open to every reputable ply
sician in the city and in the state for
their poor patients. The conduct of
its affairs should be vested in the board
OF lady managers as 1t was for 36
years prior TO the resignation Of the
board Of trustees in 1905. The women
have to get the money to pay the bills
and they should direct the purchasing
OF supplies"
When asked if he thought DR.. Vo-
winckel had monopoly on the institu-
tion Worden said:
TT certainly seems as II he had. DR.
NoWtnckel was even trying TO domi-
nate everything at the time we retired
from the board"
In answer to a question regarding
the rumor that suit would be brought
10 have the land returned to the city
Worden said:
Unless radical changes are made in
the management of the hospital and
the dictation of it's affairs the prop
erty should be taken back by the city
as II is not serving the charitable pur-
In conclusion Worden said:
singular as IL may seem. many Of
the suggestions made by Mrs. Powers
and her committee are repetitions of
suggestions made four years ago in a
letter addressed to DR.. Vowinckel by
the board Of trustees of the institu-
tion.
~HOSPITAL DISGRACE
Il honestly believe that II the Cali
fornia wOmen's hospital is thrown open
70 all reputable physicians and con-
Quoted on a businesslike basis it will
be credit to the city and state, In
stead OF as it is at the present time.
disgrace to its founder. that great,
good man. DR.. W. W. Scott"
During the course OF the interview
Woroen took occasion to denounce ia
no uncertain terms the people who have
been instrumental in turning this hos
pital from it's career as a great chari-
table institution into practically a pri-
vste hospital. although the public con-
tinues to bear all Of the expense
An important conference wes held
last evening by Worden and several of
his associates, and another Will be held
today. when the course which is to be
pursued TO force a reorganization at the
hospital will be definitely settled
II was rumored yesterday that Dr.
Vowinckel had said he would resign
later II he won out in the present con-
troversy.
Commenting on the statement which
Dr. Vowinckel recently made to the ef-
feet that the present trouble had al
ready cost the hospital several thou
sand dollars, friend of the institution
asked why, II the chief surgeon had the
interests Of the hospital at heart, he did
not resign and end the entire contro-
versy.
A statement was secured late last
night TO the effect that after today's
conference important data bearing on
the present controversy would be given
10 the public by the investigating com
mittee.
.OUSTING PREVENTED
An account Of the manner in which
the ousting Of DR.. Vowinckel from con-
troll Of the hospital was prevented in
1905 can be CLEANED from a report Of
Clinton E. Worden on the annual cleo
tion Of directors, held in his office
on January 81, 1905. At that time the
old board was reelected against a
ticket composed Of persons favorable
to Nowinckel by vote of as to A.
Attorney W. H Metson, who was on the
Nowinckei ticket, then served notice
that the legality of the election would
be contested
Rather than see the institution which
they loved so well brought into disre-
pute by an airing Of internal rows
women who had devoted their efforts
successfully and faithfully to the hos
pital for more than 20 years. although
legally elected. resigned and turned the
management over TO younger people,
who were anxious to take up the bur-
den and had the financial and social
position to carry ii on successfully In
this way DR.. Nowinckel got on the
board of trustees and had his friends
put on.
Mrs. Francis J. Carolan. who used all
of her {rf7,,ence for the elecffov, ~ xJ,a