New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-16
BEWARE, 0 YE DOCTORS!
MIR. Flower, of Boston, Will Get
You if You Don't Watch Out.
WAR ON "MEDICAL TRUST"
Leader of New Movement IN
Canned" Interview Threat
ems Many Dire Things.

b O Flower, of Boston. came TO town
yesterday He came prepared. too. copying
the method Of Prince Tokugawa, the IL
iustricus japanese who left here last week,
with a Ftcaaned" interview, which he had
dictated and which was typewriter. and
which he handed out eagerly TO every one
who called at his Office In the Metropolitan
Building and made a noise like reporter
Mr.. Flower announced that he was
strongly opposed to doctors. at least TO all
the doctors of America who were members
Of the American Medical Association. and
as Flower SAID himself that a great ma
jority of doctors were in the association IL
was apparent right at the start that he
was in for a big fight, and didn't blanch at
the prospect
Speaking generally Mr.. Flower says tilat
doctors charge too much and are aiming at
roIifical influence but particularly as he
candidIy confessed his objections were that
doctors other than those OF the allopathic
school were not recognized sufficiently, ana
that the Owen bill. now before the Senate
contemplated a still greater recosnluon OF
that school Flower IS not doctor OF any
school. but he admits that he has had a
leaning since childhood to the hoTnoeopaths
ON the door Of his Office in the Metro
r,niitau Building is inscribed The National
League for Medical Freedom" and MI
Flowers carefully prepared interview states
that the league was formed for the pur-
pose OF fighting the proposed establishment
Of national health bureau.
This bureau which would be created by
The Owen bill Mr.. Flower declared would
.nrrench in power the doctors trust"
one insurgent interviewer, departing en-
tirelv from the rules of the canned" inter-
IN what the doctors
trust was, and Mr.. Flower tnterjected the
explanation that It was the great body Of
doctors who charged for their visits
WY said Mr.. Flower vaguely, and with
q wide. sweeping gesture, ali those doctors
who charge 1he roor men for their visits
charge them fixed price, no matter how
roor they are<he patients, mean"
The opening sentence of his Interview"
claimed for the new league the membership
q homnopa1hs, osteopaths, Christian Scien-
lists and Observation-Disclosures, and gave
list of members of the advisory board. made
ID chiefly OF residents Of Chicago, Kansas
City and other Western cities
His little philippe teerned with such gen
lie expressions as medical autocracy," Ten
eine Of oppression" monopoly seeking
medical men," ''despotism in medicine" and
a. seemed as Mr.. Flower talked on that the
doctors Of the country were pretty close ID
carrying away the national Treasury or
something like that.
However, as he continued IL appeared
that there was no fear of that as long as
the National League for Medical Freedom,
organized yesterday, was in the field In
CidentaIly President Flower stated for the
league that the new organization was well
equipped with funds TO carry on the fight
Senator Robert NJ. owen, of Oklahoma,
who introduced the bill which contemplates
The establishment of national health
bureau or department. when seen yesterday
did not seem TO he unduly excited about
the possible opposition threatened by Mr..
Flowers league.
That kind of talk IS all nonsense" said
Senator Owen There is nothing in it. My
bill doesn't contain word about curtailing
curative methods: It seeks only to further
preventive methods"
Mir Flower admitted unb1ushingly that he
n1ent Of the worlds history.
There was the political movement for
democracy in politics and the religious
movement for democracy and liberation IN
religion. and now the medical movement
for democracy IN medical matters" he ex-
planned. and when he was asked about the
formation Of the new league he pictured
St 3 sort of spontaneous movement
against the awful tyranny Of the doctors.
IT was asked TO take the presidency"
said Mr.. Flower. of Boston," and took IT