The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-31

Editor Palladium-Permit space for
citizen of Richmond, taxpayer and
voter for over quarter OF century,
with malice toward none and charity
for all" to express candidly honest
convictions as 10 the present MAJORITY
campaign.
With only kind feelings for the pres
ent mayor who seeks reelection, and
whom the writer never voted for, We
believe he was honest and sincere in
promises at each reelection to give
the city the very best administration.
fully expecting to do so: and really
was as competent as any other lIine
man TO manage Richmond's municipal
affairs and at the same lime f.als.1--
medicine efficiently, and to indulge in
sporting activities; all of which, in
our opinion, no one within the range
of human possibilities can accomplish
with perfect satisfaction and justice TO
the community nor even TO his own
better conscience.
The writer once refused to vote for
his own brother, a practicing physi-
clan, for township trustee, because he
would not give up his profession and
devote the whole time to that office.
With an abiding devotion to medical
science, the noblest profession in this
world, the ministry not excepted in
our opinion. and an abiding faith in
the good people of Richmond VINO have
so kindly treated the writer during
these years, Notwithstanding, if con-
WINGED that this city really deserved
only half the time and attention of its
dOCtor-mayOr, and that the science and
practice of medicine for its efficient,
practical application in the relief of
sick humanity, only required half the
time, study and attention of a mayor
doctor, the writer would abandon the
profession, sell out at a great sacri-
fee and get away from Richmond in
side of three days.
The doctor should not be mayor
the mayor should not doctor In the
name of afflicted humanity as we'll as
the ethical dignity of the greatest pro
fession on earth, we solemnly protest
against political salve and election
eering dope.
Indeed. personally, we can not con-
ceive of any municipal office from
mayor to dog peter, that any thor
ough, scientific, competent physician
with even an ordinary practice can
efficiently all with honor to the pro-
fession and the very best interests of
all the people.
Richmond's crying need is a we'll
equipped, efficient health department
We have no criticism of our health
department and our good friend the
health officer, nor any others con-
nected with it; think they all have
doLA as we'll as circumstances would
afford. In the first place, their sal
airy, from the mayor down, is not suf-
ficient to live on and devote their
whole time to the work actually nee
essary. For instance. the secretary
or health officer receives $500 an
nually, sanitary inspector $720, dairy
inspector $1,000. not enought for half
his time devoted to a work on which
depends the life, health and efficiency
of every child in Richmond.
The intelligence, wealth, power
and world influence of municipality,
as we'll as a nation, is always in ex-
act proportion to the health, vigor
and efficiency of it's individual citi-
zenship; the health department there
fore is, or should be, the department
of human vital conservation.
A Municipal Laboratory.
The city should equip and maintain