Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-12
Asks People Note
Difference Among
Hospital Workers

Springfield, Ill, Oct 12.-Edltor
The Argus: | am writing an APP
peal for the support of the people
of Rock Island in the difficulties
which our state is encountering in
the administration of the Water
town state hospital.
On Sept IS. Sam Callura was
received at that institution. He was
an agitated. disturbed patient who
caused more or less trouble in his
ward.
A few days after his arrival the
woman nurse in charge found him
suffering from bruises which were
not present when she went off duty
the day before. She promptly re-
ported them. About the same time
a reliable patient of that same
ward went to superintendent Haw-
ley voluntarily and reported abuse
of patients by three male attend
ants specifying CaIlura as one of
the extreme cases.
Investigation brought from the
men practical confession of guilt
One admitted having held the pa
tient by the throat while another
attendant kicked him. The patient
himself was battered up about the
face and body and had two frac-
tured ribs. The attendants set up a
plea of self-defense as justification
for the brutal beating and kicking
hich they had given him. Doctor
Hawley acting on the policy of the
state department of public welfare,
caused their arrest
They were arraigned before a
magistrate in East Molie. The
three were tried together, and on
their plea of self-defense were dis
charged from custody. They then
went to the institution and demand
&c reinstatement as employees,
which Doctor Hawley very prop
erly refused Thereupon they set
about to organize a strike or walk
out of employees engaged in the
most sacred work man has under
taken,-the care and treatment of
the sick and helpless who need pro-
lection.
For a time it looked as though
they might succeed.
The statute, adopted by the leg
islature many years ago, makes an
assault upon an insane patient by
a sane person, a penitentiary Of
Tense Convictions have not been
numerous because the courts will
lot take the testimony of patients
and abuse is not often committed
in the presence of the superintend-
ent or members of the staff.
For a number of years it has
been the policy Of the state to dis
charge employees believed to be
guilty of abuse and to refuse to re-
employ them under any condition.
This policy has been adhered to
lie welfare and no employee has
gotten back into the service
against whom there is record in
the state civil service commission .
office of a charge of abuse or mis-
treatment of a patient.
We do not accept the plea of self
defense and have not in a long
time. Other progressive states dc
not accept it. We do not believe it
is ever valid or honest and it Ger
tainly can not be valid when there
were three men attendants to one
insane man. as in the case in point.
Nor is it valid on the part of
men when women. without resort
to. cave methods, are able and are
doing it every day, to manage effici-
emily and humanely large numbers
OF insane men.
The state hospitals of Illinois
have made noble contributions to
, the governments needs They have
given practically all of their train
ed physicians and nurses. They
have been operating on the very
minimum number of employees so
that the army and navy and war in
duStries should not be denied none
that they need.
The labor turn over has been
enormous. We are glad to say that
instances of abuse have been very
few but such outrageous and flag
rant cases as this one at Water
town deserves public notice and
condemnation.
The department needs the sup
port and sympathy of the public in
these trying times and above all
the helpless and unfortunate who
must go to these institutions de-
serve all the protection that we
and the public can give them.
May we not have the hearty and
intelligent support of the people of
Rock Island and surrounding coun-
try in our efforts to maintain our
institutions free from these regret
able affairs Our plea is that the
public mind may not be deceived
by the specious defense set up by
the brutes in human form who oc-
casionally find their way into the
public service and there exercise
their prowess upon the helpless
and the sick.
A L. BOWEN,
Superintendent of Charities. De
partment of Public Welfare.