Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-05

- -" ~ AEAaAaN@On Auak ARENtN NJ
ton contrary TO the honest convictions
OF citizen f. n violation OF his most
sacred rights and OF the constitution
Of the United States. I protest ear
nestiy asginst such laws. appeal
20 congress TO awaken and inform It,
self on this great question affecting
life. health and liberty. and AFFORD re-
lief 20 the people who are suffering
under these unjust laws
II am not asking for laws IN favor
% any class or mode OF heziinE T
am asking only for freedom 10 follow
their convictions OF what f. best for
them There should be no class leeis-
iatiou on the subject. ! am only ask
Ing that they shall not be deprived OF
their rights and their liberties by ad-
verse and restrictive laws IN favor %
and az the dictation OF another class.
Broaden Health Service.
Il would not abolish the public
health service II could said Sena-
/ tor Works. Il would make Il broader.
more tolerant. more humane. ] would
have Il presided over By a MAJ OF
broad. tolerant and humanitarian
views. who could look beyond the dead
line OF the so-calied regular school OF
E A++"eANah" sAAAL HNFh ANAs AAAL anu apply
for the common welfare all that is
good In every school OF medicine, old
and new. and all other methods Of
healing. saving none. favoring none. I
would not allow any medical or other T.
professional practitioner to preside /
over the service. ! would allow no
preference 10 rule the service.
AS IL Is now governed II Is an aux
citation. and OF course is biased. narrow I
and unjust. All government medical
officers are made members OF this as
sociation. and ! am informed none has
declined his membership. do not
question their motives or good faith.
but I do seriously question their judg-
ment and the propriety OF government
health officers belonging TO an associa.
ton operated for the benefit of its
own members.
The government should see TO II L
that the service IS removed from any
such influence and made the unbiased
and honest searcher for the best that
can be found as a means OF preventing (
disease and preserving the public
health appeal 10 congress for a
fair and patriotic consideration OF this
ArIEatL question AAAdA AINoANer L4At ltd4N'A T.
and happiness. the lives of our people" .
Costs s2o.ooo.ooo Year. Z
Senator Works quoted figures to ]
show that the annual expenditures for l
the health service in fits various ,
branches exceed S2O.OOO.OOO. There is. G
he said. at the head OF the public
health service proper a surgeon gen Q
sTai. another surgeon general of the 4
army and one Of the navy. and under 4
hem thousands OF surgeons. assistant y
surgeons and subordinates. He pre- n
'euted a table OF expenditures for Il
1912 showing a total OF SI9.SO0.OS6.23 n
more than half OF which was paid for ;
OF 1882 employees. all a
4 whom were OF one school OF medi- n
sine. the ailOpathic. The number. he fl
aid. has been largely increased since p
hen. a
Almost unlimited powers. he said. .
ave been delegated TO the surgeon
.eneral and his shbordinates. usurpflg .,
he constitutional rights OF individ- ,,
Iais. In apprehension OF an epidemic ;,
" contagion. he said. the surgeon :
.eneral assumes despOtic power. his =
not being exceeded even by u
he general OF the army in time OF
martial Law.
He represents. for the time being" W
aid the senator. the enormous police in
over OF the government He may re- al
train and imprison a citizen and pre- &C
cribe the habits OF the people. Even m
D ordinary times his power IS little ki
sss despOtic When We travel he m
lay determine what We shall drink N
nd how We shall drink Il. The useless m
nd unnecessary precautions taken TO
eep Us in good health are often bur re
ensome and humiliating in the ex- tn
-eme. IN
Unfortunately most people are Ia
filing slaves TO the doctor whether ar
P appears IN uniform or in a private ga
opacity. The extent 20 which intelli-
mt people submit TO the ministra- ca
ons OF the physician or surgeon is pc
ne Of the wonders OF the age" alb
Ineompe.eney Charged. ne
The senator charged that the incom-
.;ency and recklessness of some ply IN
clans and surgeons has caused more se
taIities. made more fnvalids. and co
-. "a. -, 80 che cs,,sa ~,
-. :. - Ia ..,, A. q, tho DR.
lnds OF a profession composed to n
rye extent OF such as these that the
alfh and happiness OF a suffering do
.opIe now mainly rest. and that in no
rye measure by force OF laws enact iy
nv congress and the state Iegisla- an
res mel
"Our public health service has been IN
ven over without question TO just the
e school OF medical men TO the ex- are
,sion OF all other modes OF healing full
Fe afdpr.
No citizen is allowed TO exercise ant
individual conscience in time OF cit
tstinx or threatened contagion. is Blu
owed to exercise his individual be- un'
= as TO the manner OF preserving not
frf.