The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-07-19
GOVERNMENT WILL
Have Opportunity To Volunteer
Or win Be Drafted; To Con-
~ t troll Profession
u (Cdnclhdsd from Page II

VIZ tINVncfuueu IrOm rage ID
states had a very strong and thorough
association. organized on tho same basis
as the American government, with a
house Of delegates, representing all the
states Of the Union! ,EEfN -
1 Doctor, jackson says that there have
been several conferences Of the different
state societies held in Chicago to de.
termine what was best to do to supply
the army with all the physicians need
ed. 'Thefe are now about 1900 mem.
befs OF the association in the military
service, and ut a patriotic meeting '6f
the aSsoeiatioR there was exhibited a
huge service flag with approximately
this many stars1perhaps the biggest
service flag OF any profession in the
United States, - Doctor Jackson said
voluntary Draft
Asa most extreme measure for SUD
plying the governments wants, the
American Medical Association has con
adered VOLUNTARY drafting" of its
members, who would be selected upon
the same principle as men are dratro
into the army under the Selective Draft
Act. The doctors, under this proposed
plan, which was to be put into effect
whenever the voluntary system had
failed, were to be taken into the ser
Vice up to the age Of ffty-fve years,
after they were chosen from those
who II was believed could best leave
their civilian practises. The selections
were to be made after a QUESTIONABLE
had been answered as to qualifications,
age and grounds for exemption, says
Doctor jackson.
However, while this plan was an.
proved at the recent Chicago confer
enee, it was not considered necessary
to pnt IL into operation at present, as
it was believed the immediate needs.
and probably the future needs of the
government, could be filled by volun
tary enlistments, and "before the Uni
ted States would find it necessary to
conscript the Doctors" he added.
Plan Approved 80, =" =,
After expressing approval Of the plan
of the government, if it had been found
necessary 10 take control of the me.
dicai profession, Doctor Blodgett said
he thought Surgeon General George ha"
said six weeks ago the government
needed from 5000 to 5000 more physi
clans and surgeons at once. The need
for the future, 10 replace losses
and supply physicians for an increased
army, We're estimated at something like
5000 a'year. These estimates are based,
Doctor BlOdgett' said, on the require
ment of seven doctors to every 1000
men In the army personnel, the basis
for the first call of 10000 physicians
at the beginning Of the war; which
was secured promptly by voluntary en-.
rolments. Experience Of the French
army had proven that ten doctors to
every 1000 men were needed, rather
than the lower American estimate, Doc
tor Blodgett said.
BIKE Doctor Jackson, the secretary of
the Hawaii medical association said he
had gained the impression from a re-
port of the Chicago conference that
II would not Be necessary for the gov
eminent to take the drastic action now
planned At this conference it was
deciaed TO get voluntary medical ser
vice from the counties of the states
which had not supplied the avert9r
QUOTA early in the war when the first
call for physicians went out.
'"No- trouble was an ticipated in max
ing up the deficiencies from the coun.
ties which were not up to their quotas
by voluntary action, as had the first
10000 been secured, Hiie said.
The Hhwaib medical association Of
ffcers say that out of an enrolment of
about seventy members there are now
eleven island doctors in the military
service and several applications for
commissions have gone forward to
Washington; besides Doctor Blodgett 3.
81.