The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-30
HOSPITAL MERGER
PROBABLY ALL OFF
Harper and Detroit General Likely Tc
Continue Separate Ways-Dr. Met
calf Declared Disturbing Element.

Developments Of the past few days
probably will result In the merger OF
Harper hospital and the projected De-
troit General hospital being declared
OF. There has been no separation as
yet, but split Is looked for when the
board or trustees of Harper General
hospital, as the consolidation Is known,
meets next Tuesday afternoon. This
will likely mean the revival Of the
original project of the Detroit General
hospital and the restoration of the old
Harper hospital board, and the two In
stitutions will go their separate ways,
entirely Independent OF each other.
The split comes as a result of the
resignation of Henry Ford, one of the
principal hackers of the new hospital
as originally planned, and the attitude
of DR.. w. p. Metcalf, the foremost pro-
moter of the project, toward the De-
troit College of Medicine. J. l.. Hud-
son, president OF the board OF trustees,
received from DR.. Metcalf last Mon
day a request that the board consider
the insertion of an article In the con-
stitution governing the new hospital,
providing that no primary medical
teaching be done in the institution.
This was direct slap at the Detroit
College of Medicine, for Harper hospi-
tai is now used for clinics In connec-
ton with the medical school.
The following mail brought to Mr..
Hudson's desk the resignation Of Mr..
Ford, and when these two matters
came before the board last Tuesday
afternoon the trustees, particularly
those who had been on the Harper
hospital board before the merger, were
taken greatly by surprise.
With respect to Mr.. Ford's resigna-
ton, Mr.. Hudson said, Thursday morn
ing:
II cannot speak for Mr.. Ford and
will not presume to say what his rea-
sons were for withdrawing. but know
that he has never been In favor Of the
merger, and, believe, he went into
1t in lie first place largely because a
number OF his associates went In.
"As to DR.. Metcalf, don't mind say
ing that he has been a disturbing ele-
ment throughout this matter. He
seems to have an exaggerated sense
of his own ability as an executive and
certainly makes mountain out OF a
molehill in the medical college mat
ter"
was he opposed to the merger?"
was asked.
well, u was made while he was IN
Europe, studying the hospitals there,
although the proposition was discussed
with him before he left"
DR.. Metcalf left town very early
Thursday morning. in an automobile.
He Is taking his family to Bayfield,,
Ont, and is not expected to return
home until July 8.
There is said to be a possibility that
Mr.. Ford, who contributed 100000 to
the original Detroit General hospital
fund, will undertake to finance the en-
tire project, IL the merger falls
through. Mr.. Ford could not be reach
ed Thursday morning
The members OF the original Detroit
General hospital board who are now
on the board of the Harper General
hospital are: Otto Kirchner. Fred NJ.
Alger. John r. Russell and F. l.. Ford
II was necessary for three Of the Har-
per trustees. David Carter, Bethune
Duffield and Clarence A. Black. 20
withdraw temporarily, until the num-
Der of trustees could be increased by
legislation II the merger fails. these
trustees will likely return to the Har-
ger board.
II is said that DR.. Metcalt's personal
luminosity toward Drs Charles G. Jen-
nings and II. o. Walker Is responsible
In measure for his attitude toward
the medical school and the merger
proposition generally. DR.. Jennings