The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-03-22
FATAL ERROR KILLS
MEASURE OF NOTE
Assigning the Defense of Chris
tian Science to One Not a
Christian Helps to
Defeat Bill.

| NOlulhOuS' - NDPSClaiJ - VI AhO wv
startling features in the legislative
day preceding the recess of the gen
eral assembly, one thrilled a small gal
lery audience and the other saddened
large, earnest and evidently intelli-
gent one.
To speak of the last first: The Ter
rill bill to give the rights held by
| physicians to those who heal by spirit
ual means or prayer" passed in the
senate two weeks previously by vote
of 10 to 13, was reached on the calen-
dar at 10 p. IN. Pages were sent to
senators and reporters who had asked
notice be given them when the debate
| started. Physicians and Christian Sci
ence healers in the side galleries and
ladies in the balcony had been wait
ing for hours. The vote in the senate
had been so decisive in favor of the
bill and the support of it by three of
the four great daily newspapers at the
capital that the Christian Scientists
were confident that victory in a fight
which had been carried through three
general assemblies they were about to
achieve.
The Debate Started.
Mr.. Fitzsimmons of Cleveland, who
had been given the management of
the bill, offered an amendment for the
purpose, he said, Of meeting the prin-
cipal objections he had heard against
the measure. The amendment pro-
vided that only persons accredited by
their churches and who file credentials
In the Office Of the secretary of state
shall be permitted to practice. 1t fur
ther stated that Scientists shall be
exempt from observance of laws re-
Quiring the reporting OF contagious
diseases.
The principal objections heard in
the senate were, that the bill would
legaliEe the collecting of fees by spirit
ualists and clairvoyants, as well as
Christian Scientists, and that Chris
tian Science healers, having neither
medical knowledge nor hospital ex-
perieuce, could not determine early
Ministers "Deseerate PuIpits."
Representative Evans of Toledo led
the debate. He said he was not mem
Der OF any church, because he be-
lieves in liberty. and that for the same
reason he deemed it unjust to legis-
late against Christian Scientists. He
| pleaded "for the right of these people
to exist" as long as this right does not
injure others.
He then fiayed the ministers, who, he
said, "desecrated their pulpits" when
they spoke before the public health
committee against religious creed
which did not conform to their own.
"lf Christian Science prevails in
Ohio" he said, there will be less
work for the board of health to do.
Christian Scientists observe health
and sanitary rules more strictly than
any other class Of people. Recently in
| Toledo they arrested 16 doctors for
not reporting diseases. Christian Sci
entists, / know, would be the first to
report diseases"
Votes for Constituents.
Cartmell of Auglaize county, the
only member who is a Union veteran,
was the first speaker in opposition to
the bill He declared he was between
the devil and the deep blue sea" be-
| cause his wife and son are Christian
Scientists, the son having been healed
Of an ailment by Science treatment.
But my constituents, l know, are
against the bill and will vote their
wishes" he explained.
DR.. Foster, COshoCton, opposed the
act, because Christian Scientists say
disease does not exist; therefore, they
could not recognize and, report it. Dr..
Stump of Pickaway county deemed
them unfit because they had not stud
led anatomy, physiology and diagnosis,
Huges of Lorain also, on account of
Scientists lacking medical education
al qualifications.
Gorrell of Carroll county said Christ
was drugless healer and did not
charge fees, and then read from Mrs.
Eddy's Science and Health" the state
ment that "A Christian Scientist never
recommends material hygiene" and in
sisted that healer who denied the
existence Of disease could not recOg-
nize and report it to the authorities.
Freiner of Vinton county objected
to the charging of fees. Pearson of
Miami county said: "We have been
given a lemon; let us squeeze it and
let the juice fly where it will"
The bill was defeated, % to S3.
To nail its coffin, motion was
made to reconsider the vote, which
gave Chapman Of Dayton opportunity
to move it's indefinite postponement,
which carried.
The overwhelming defeat Of this
motion to amend. which removed the
most forcible objections to the enact
ment of the bill, indicated that it was
to be slain as it stood.
Assigning the defense of Christian
Scientists to one not Christian, was
a fatal error.
Greatest Speech In the House.
The greatest speech delivered in
the current general assembly was that
of the one negro member-greatness
being gagged by the number Of men,
bers Influenced by speech.
1t is directed particularly against
the showing of "The Birth Of Ma
tion"-a film rejected two years ago
by the board Of censors. One Of the
three of this board, Mrs. Maude
Murry Miller. lady from the South,
who. writes features for Wolfe's Dis
~.NS%eesNNNNNNA1NS>
Two conspirators Disappear.
Mack GlASar and GarriSh the