The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-07
HENRY FORD SAYS
HE'LL STAND BY
DR.. METCALF
Convinced That Latter Is Right In
Opposing Merger Of Harper and
Detroit General Hospitals
ON Lines Proposed.
Attitude Also Commended by Brother
Physician, Who Holly Attacks
Proprietary Schools"

merger between me prcgected DetrOlS
General hospital and Harper hospital
Is removed by Developments OF the
past few days. Following the return
TO the city. Tuesday night, OF DR.. VIII
liam +. Metcalf, who has been the
chief promoter of the new hospital
plan, his friends, including Henry
Ford, have rallied 10 his defense and
have given The Times their version,
which is DR.. Metcalf's version. of tho
split between the two Institutions, as
printed below. a well-posted medi-
cine man, a friend OF DR.. Metcalf, and
physician OF state vile prominence
made this statement 10 7 he Times:
"Df. Metcalf has worked for a num-
Der OF years past to obtain for De-
troit a hospital which should be
founded and conducted on correct and
wholesome principles. one devoted to
the public good, and TO the highest
ideals Of medical and surgical science.
One central thought and idea was
that IL must be divorced from any
and every private, proprietary, medi-
cal school. These schools are curse
10 the country, blot upon the medi-
cal profession. and a hindrance to all
progress In medical science.
ct Is unnecessary TO argue this
question or give reasons for it. No
physician OF any standing at the pres
emit day who has the slightest regard
for his word, will deny II. All the
highest thought In medical science
is devoted to the elimination of and
stamping out of such schools.
"A hospital dominated by such in
A.aA No ~ nd
never attain to the standing or useful
ness which II should have.
CDR. Metcalf for years sought TO
educate both the profession and the
laity along these lines; and. after
years OF effort succeeded in convinc.
ing number Of wealthy and public
spirited men and women that Detroit
ought to have new hospital founded
on these lines.
these generous men and women
subscribed to the fund wholly on these
lines and for these purposes. and last
fall moneys were advanced by them,
a site purchased. and very consid-
cradle sum pledged for buildings.
Thus II will be seen that a most ex-
ceilent start had been made and the
enterprise gave fair promise OF sue
cess At this juncture merger with
Harper hospital was proposed. 1t ia
quite immaterial at this point who
proposed 1t or what was the real mo-
tive I'm proposing II. The merger was
never seriously contemplated for q
moment by those representing the new
hospital, except upon the absolute and
unqualified condition That the new
and larger hospital should be erected
maintained and conducted upon the
one central thought and idea describ-
ed above.
AT about this time DR.. Metcalf was
appointed, with others, by the new
hospital authorities upon committee
to examine the hospitals OF Europe,
with a view to having the latest and
best in hospital construction and
equipment. At his own expense, DR..
Metcalf made this tour of examina-
tion. giving freely of his time and
money and sacrificing his practice in
the meantime.
During his absence the proposed
merger plan was worked out, contrary
10 explicit assurances given upon his
departure. Assent TO the merger was
given by a number of the new hos
pital board, under complete misap-
prehension, believing that the PLAZA
conformed to the ideas referred TO
above, but upon examination II was
found that the merger was not for
INFLATED along these ideas and that
the labor Of years and all moneys that
had been pledged might be devoted 10
ends entirely foreign TO the purposes
for which they were given. Then a
halt was called. The principal donors
IRE not willing that the project should
stray from its original design.
ct 10 easy to- aBperse individuals
snd impugn motives. ,It-would be the
easiest thing I'm the world for me to
point to much that savors of tricKcry
bnd overreaching in the matter OF
bringing around the so-called merger.
But why do SO? On the other hand,
what excuse is there for any person
or newspaper to accuse of selfishness
and obstruction inc very men who, Up
10 this time, have performed the great
burden Of the work and accomplished
whatever has been accomplished"
Henry Ford, one OF the heaviest sub.
scribers, was shown the foregoing in.
terview and asked for his views re-
gaTding the MERGE. Mr.. Ford is a
man of few words and il is hard "a
induce him to speak at all upon the
subject, Finally, however. he said:
Il am not medical man and know
very little about hospitals, but | have
wanted 10 see something different and
better In Detroit than we have. What
ever have done and whatever | shall
do has been and will BE- slong the liues
mapped out by DR.. Metralf His plans
meet with my entire approval | gave
some study to the situation lately, and
becoming thoroughly convinced that
the merger was not on right lines,
withdrew, and / think the new hospi
tai should pursue it's original plans.
II think l am safe In saying there
viii be a hospital"
Or Metcalf would consent to dis
cuss the matter only briefly. He said,
Since am personaly attacked iu
the interviews recently published
prefer to remain Silent. ...-
Nearly all the subscriptions wcr,
cbtahued on my personal solicitation
and I consider my obligation in TIE
nature OF q trust, thei efore az
bound TO see that the money is USED
according to the purf oses OF The
donors.
4 have never opposed merger
With Harper hospital but necessarily
ne merged institution must conform
in is scope and plans with the funda
mental ideas of those providing the
money"
The meeting OF the board of trus
tees on Harper General hospital. called
49, H,tnadow affornoan wak attaDaa4