The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-16
DR.. 7. C. BIDDLE

-UK. |. y. bIDDLE
tContinued from Page One,
Biddle was made Superintendent of
the Topeka state hospital. He held
that position until his death this
morning.
He Withstood Investigation.
A most positive and forceful char
acter, a stickler for discipline and
business management, Doctor Biddle
was given an almost free rein in the
affairs of the big hospital with its
1900 patients. Opposition to Doctor
Biddle's methods of management sew
eral times occasioned threats of re-
movaL. But every investigation
strengthened the mans position and
won new friends. He held his station
at the head of the Topeka institution
during the administrations of Cover
nors Stanley, Bailey. Hoch. Stubs,
Hodges and Capper. Governor Hodges,
altho a Democra and Doctor Biddle
a positive and determined old line Re
publican, were staunch friends and the
Democrat governor frequently de-
clared he held Doctor Biddle- in high
est esteem of any institutional man in
the state.
Affairs concerned with the manage
ment of the big hospital had drawn
heavily on Doctor Riddles strength
and endurance during the last year.
The coal shortage this winter, I'M
needed supplies had caused a nervous
strain under which the hospital head
had broken greatly. AS an instance of
conditions faced in the last few
months. Doctor Bjddle called a local
coal man from his bed at 8 o'clock in
the morning and borrowed a car of
coal that the institution might not be
closed and hundreds of patients caused
to suffer. The temperature at that
time was Is below zero and there was
hardly bucket of coal in the bunkers
when the car arrived.
He Expected to Retire.
| Doctor Biddle had determined to re-
| tire to private life this summer. Sew
era1 weeks ago he advised his init
| mate friends that he expected to re-
sign Less than two weeks ago he
| told his friends he would send his
resignation to the state board of ad-
| ministration February 1.-THE day be-
| fore his death. The resignation was
to have become effective July l.
In public affairs and in Republican
politics, Doctor Biddle was known per
sonally by almost every man in active
political life in the state. His two
most intimate personal friends were
George A. Clark and the late Morton
Albaugh- Doctor and Mrs. Biddle
| had gone to the Albaugh home last
Saturday morning following news of
the death of the political leader. While
| there Doctor Biddle was seized with
| a severe chill, and compelled to return
to his home. Pneumonia developed
from a high fever and he followed AL
| baugh to his death a week later, al
| most to the hour.
Among Doctor Biddle's intimate as
sociates had been the late Cyrus Lee
land and 1. E. Lambert. Doctor Bid
die had opened an office in Reading,
Lyon county, in the early SOS. He
practiced medicine in Reading six
Years and went to Emporfa, where
| he opened partnership with his
brother, Doctor George Biddle.
Gave Up Practice in 1895.
! 1t was while Doctor Biddle was en-
gagged in the practice OF mediclne N,
Emporia that he was selected to head
| the Osawa tonne state hospital he
abandoned private practice in 1893
and except the period % army serv-
ice, devoted the remaining 25. years
of his life to work in state hospitals
for the insane.
II Doctor Biddle's heart and soul were
in institutional work. He placed the
humane side of institution work above
| every interest and was perhaps OF
greater influence in reerganizing the
| system of institution management
than any man in the state. he mad
served the state under the old board
of charities, the board of control and
the succeeding state board of admin
istration.
Head Medical Advisory Board.
| Last summer Doctor Bidd1e spent
several months in the examination OF
Shawnee county young men called be-
fore the county exemption board He
gave long hours of service in the
| work and resigned only when his
Observation-Disclosures and heavy respon-
sibiIities at the state hospital would
not permit him to continue. Several
weeks ago he was appointed as chair
u man of the state medical advisory
board, which was in charge of the
examination of young men subject to
call under the selective draft act.
One of the men in close touch with
Doctor Biddles work was Henry j
Allen of Wichita Allen had been a
member of the board of charities
while Doctor Biddle was at the head
of the Topeka hospital.
4 When the Allen campaign for gov
ernor was organized, Doctor Biddle
was one of the most active workers
Il want to see Henry Allen in the
governors office Doctor Biddle told
. a friend a few weeks before he died
He feels and appreciates the rea
humane side of institutional life more
than any available man for the Office
Was Born In Indiana.
Doctor Fiddle was born in New
Maysville Ind, Sept. IA, 1857. H,
was as student in Old Asbury. nov
Depauw university, at Greencastle
Ind. For his professional course h.
| attended Rush Medical college, wher,
he graduated in 1881 Following com
: pletion of his medical course. Doctor
tBiddle came to Kansas and located il