The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-05-27
MEDICAL ''TRUl
OPPOSED
LEAGUE FORMED 70 SECURE
FREEDOM FROM This
DOMINATION.
Campaign Begins Against Bills Before
Congress Which It l. Claimed Cur.
tail Liberty OF All citixens-s. o.
Flower, Of Twentieth Century Maya.
zine, Head Of New society.

New York, May 23.-During the past
week announcement has been made OF
a far-reaching organization that has
for its object ''the freedom OF citizens
from government by political doctors. !.
A prospectus explicitly states that
this new league is not opposed to sani-
tation or quarantine, properly admin
istered, and that it makes no war on
and has no quarrel with the faithful
medical man of whatever school.
An extensive campaign has been ar
ranged against the existing efforts Of
the. American Medical Association to
have Congress consider five bills
which, if passed, would commit the
! United States government to the es-
adjustment of system of medicine de-
nying to the people the right to de-
termine for themselves the kind of
medical treatment they should en-
ploy.
The organization is known as the
National League for Medical Freedom,
and has for its president B. o. Flower
of Boston, editor of the Twentieth
Century Magazine. The league has
headquarters in the Metropolitan
building, Madison avenue, New York
city, and is asking for membership in
every city of the country.
To quote from some of its litera-
ture: "No fee is required for mem
bership in this league. Send your
name and address for literature. Also
write Immediately your representative
at Washington protesting against any
bills of this character"
B. o. Flower, who was the founder
of the Arena and has a worldwide rep
utation as magazine editor and
writer upon subjects pertaining to the
betterment of mankind. in an inter
view said:
'The aim and purpose Of this league
in the maintenance of the rights of the
American people against unnecessary,
unjust, oppressive, paternal and un-
American laws, ostensibly related to
the subject of health.
'They will strive to protect the peo-
| pie in the enjoyment of one of the
most sacred rights for which man has
to contend against privilege seeking
classes-a right to select the physi-
clan of his choice in the hour of sick
ness.
| "They will seek, through publicity
and education, to unmask and oppose
any legislation which endeavors to put
into power any one system of healing.
and use the government prestige,
money and machinery to enforce its
theories and opinions upon citizens
who believe in another form of heal
ing"
Mr.. Flower also called attention to
a paper read before the Mississippi
Valley Association Nov. 9, 1909. by
Prof. G. Frank Lydston, M. D., who
holds an important chair in the medi-
cal department of the University of IL
linois. DR.. Lydston said:
'Despotism in medicine is not a the
airy; it is a condition, one that should
alarm all save its strict beneficiaries.
No physician can, with equanimity,
survey the trend of affairs medical in
America unless he has no interest in
personal liberty, or has forgotten the
ideals of our medical forefathers. !.
The more speciously fair the mask
self-interest wears, the more danger
GUS it becomes. s. Under the pres
ent political regime, the American
Medical Association has developed
into a medical, political and CONNER
cial trust"
| Mr.. Flower also contends that the
American Medical Association was
Thoroughly organized for political pur-
poses as far back as 1905, and that
today it is vast machine, whose RAM
ifications extend throughout the entire
nation. He said: tits ultimate aim
in every instance where it has dared to
reveal its real purpose is the securing
of monopoly rights, and the exercise of
arbitrary and despotic power, that is
at once unjust, reactfonary, morally
Iunsound, undemocratic, and which
would enormously increase the bur-
ldens OF the taxpayers.
Consider for moment these grave
facts:
FIRST, IL q national department or
Health bureau is established, it will be
1 dominated by the American Medical
association.
i Second, the American Medical AS
sociation has long been aggressively
lfavoring monopoly legislation or re-