The San Francisco call., 1908-10-19
YOWINCKfL MUST
GO, SAY THE WOMEN
Board of Lady Managers Say
That Physician Is Cause
of All Trouble
Indications Point to Bitter Fight
if Trustees Reject Com
mittee's Report

strong influences have enlisted on the
side Of the investigating committee IN
the California women's hospital row
within the past few days, and II was
learned from absolutely reliable au-
thoritv last evening that unless the
board of trustees takes favorable action
on the report OF the committee a bitter
fight will ensue that will overshadow
am previous controversies. Many OF
san Franciscos foremost citizens, VINO
have also taken a great interest IN
the situation. have been aroused and
rbev will take steps 10 wrest the con-
troll Of the institution from DR.. +. w
Nowinckel. surgeon in charge.
Up 10 the present time Mrs Laura
Bride Powers. Mrs. James Shea and
Mrs. A. W. Scott who composed the
investigating committee, have stood
practically alone in the fight TO re-
habiIitate the Institution, but in the
future this side viii be greatly
strengthened. No definite plan of ac-
tion has been decided upon by the new
parties TO the controversy as yet, and
for that reason no statement could be
secured last evening.
WHY MANAGERS "MEDDLED-
Mrs. Powers, in reply TO the declara-
tions of Or. NOwinckel that the board
Of lady managers had '-meddled" with
a department which was not unoer
their control. said:
I will plead guilty and enter as q
defense that out of common justice we
wanted to know where the public s
money was going. and for what pur-
pose it was being used. It is apparent
to any one conversant with the facts
that the investigating committee
brought to light q strange condition of
affairs in connection with the purchas-
ing Of drugs Because Of a nice ar
rangement between Dugan, the drug
gist, and Miss Mckenzie. head nurse,
the California women's hospital paid
absurd prices for drugs during a period
extending over a number of years.
Il viii say further that DIR. No-
winckel engineered a change in the
constitution some time ago which
brought about the condition of affairs
which our committee exposed. The
hospital is burdened with debt. appar-
emily having no means Of eNtricating &
itself. and still this man who has AFRO
gated TO himself practically absolute
control of a public institution wants
10 know why affairs were 'meddled'
with / will say lneddling' was needed.
The public pay the bills and has a right
10 know what becomes of the money.
CAUSES OF TROUBLE
1T is true that there have been
many changes in the board of lady
managers. and in almost every instance
the trouble has been caused by his at
tempts to tighten his clutches on a
Quasi-public institution so that he can
have il absolutely for his private use.
After we had been appointed and
began the investigation we wanted to
withdraw, fearing that we would have
TO hurt someone's feelings. At that
time FIVE trustees told us to go ahead
and get the truth, no matter who it
hurt We got the truth, but il became
distasteful when Mr. Metson. president
Of the board of trustees as well as at
torney for and friend OF DR.. Vowinckel,
returned from Alaska and began whip
ping the trustees into line. Mr.. Metson
is very close to DR.. Vowinckel and viii
fight TO the end to keep him in control
Whether a majority of the board of
trustees viii be whipped into line or
not do not know.
There is only one way TO conduct
the Womens hospital properly, and
that is to end the monopoly of DR.. Yo-
winckel and allow all reputable physi-
SLAMS to practice there on an equal
basis"