Evening star., 1915-01-05
Alleged Attempts to Suppress
Christian Science AssaiIed
by Senator Works. !
CALLS BRANCH A TOOL
OF MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Lkens Government Acts to Persecu-
tion of Christ and Stoning
Of Stephen.

Likening alleged attempts by the
government to suppress the practice OF
Christian Science to the persecution of
Jesus Christ and the stoning to death
of Stephen for divine healing. Senator
John D. Works of California stirred
the Senate today by a scathing denun-
citation of the public health service He
charged that the service was only q
tool to carry out the mandates OF the
American Medical Association.
Senator Works directly charged thar
public health service is given over
without question to the allopathio
school Of medicine to the absolute ex-
clusion of all other modes of healing;
that the surgeon general Us clothed
with despotic and autocratic power not
exceeded by that OF the general OF tho
army In time of martial law" and that
the government has .'usurped the con-
stitutional rights and liberties OF the
individuals"
Have No Monopoly, He Says
christian Scientists have no mo-
nopoly of divine healing" declared SEN
ator Works. Jesus of Nazareth prao.
ticed 1t centuries ago. In His great
drugs nor the surgeons knife. neither
did He recommend or recognize any
such remedies.
Jesus, who taught and practiced this
method of healing. was persecu'.d inn
prisoned and finally crucified. His dis.
ciples, following in His footsteps. met
like fate. This was centuries ago.
But the spirit of interference and per-
secution survives the years. The men
and women of today who are conscien-
tiously trying to carry out His fn1unc-
tions. laid upon all men. to heal the
sick are prosecuted and imprisoned as
He and His disciples were prosecuted
and Imprisoned. If they were here to-
day doing the work Of healing as they
did then they would be subject TO nne
some of the states. They would have
been held criminals under the laws OF
still other states if they had healed the
sick without frst procuring a license
from an examining board OF doctors.
"It is this kind of beneacent and hu-
name wolk that the doctors and others
are trying by every means within their
power to suppress by law and by regu-
lations of the public health service"
Attacks Health Service.
Senator Works launched into an at
tack upon the public health servics,
claiming that 1t is being made to serve
the interests Of the American Medical
Sssociation while violating the rights of
the individual.
I'm the endeavor to preserve the pub
lie health" he said. I'VE have given the
surgeon general and his subordinates
almost unlimited powers. we nave
usurped the constitutional rights and
liberties of the individuals. II conta-
gion is feared, or an epidemic of dis
ease, the surgeon general is clothed
with or assumes despotic and auto
cratic power. His authority Is not ex-
ceeded by that of the general OF the
resents for the time being the enor-
nous and unrestrained police power OF
the government. We have given this
vast power over the lives and habits of
our people to one public official. and
the people are compelled to submit to
his dominion and dictation whether
they will 1t or not.
Bias Is One Charge.
las it is now governed. the public
health service is an auxiliary Of the
American Medical Association and, Of
course, is biased, narrow and unjust.
The government should see to IL that
the service is removed from any such
influence and made the unbiased and
be found as a means for preventing
disease and preserving the pubic
health. This ask in the name Of the
American people. The government
Congress for fair. unbiased ana
patriotic consideration of this great
question that involves the health and
happiness, the lives of our people.
health service. 1 would make 1t broad
er. mere tolerant, more humane. ] would
have it presided over by man Of
broad. tolerant and humanitarian
line Of the so-called regular school of
medicine. seek for and apply for the
common welfare all that is good In
every school of medicine, old and new.
and all other methods of healing, saw
ing none. favoring none"
Cites Cases Of Healing.
Senator Works presented to the Sen
ate dfty-six authenticated cases of
Christian Science healing. all. he said,
organic and supposed by physicians to
be incurable. He said that he himself
was healed when near death. He also
read a letter from Senator Clapp of
Minnesota telling Of his healing from
'.The so-called incurabls diseases are
the ones that need to be cured" he
said. "the others will get well Of them
selves"
Among the cases Of healing cited by
Senator Works were those of a number
OF Washingtonians. He presented let
ters from Mr.. and Mrs. A. K. Wine
Of 11S Sd street northeast. whose child,
from birth, had been cured
by Christian Science. they said; Mrs.
Lille D. Atkinson of 1905 N street,
cured of deafness; MIR. and Mrs. Wal
ter T. Frittipoe. who said their daughter
z. Rohrer of s2s virginia avenue
southeast, who said she was cured of