South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-13
MARCH 10, 1910.


INFLUENCE AND HEAlTHWIN
1t is the old story the story that Prest
oBrien Of the Heathwn directorate and County Atty
MacKibbin tells the result their Investigation or
alleged investigation Healthwin anti-tubercu
oSs hospital The enrenched powers always have had
and perhaps always will have the advantage For the
individual particularly the oppressed to make himself
heard or to get considerable consideration is a
quite unknown quantity lie is put down.as a rauIt-
finder and possible effort to discredit his
words. The world is full Of gentlemen who never
miss an opportunity assault the helpless but are full
Of smiles, all smiles patronage for the capable Of
self-defense
Thus it is that O'Brien president of the Health
win board of directors attempts to chasze ms in his
voluminous thesis of exoneraton Of the institution
management for giving publicity to the complaints of
those who could not otherwise get hearing; after
his influence had succeeded in keeping it out of one
South Bend newspaper. ne admits besides assuring,
Nurse Rizer with al the autocratic assurance Of the
German ex-kaiser that it would do the HOSPITAL no
good and that the final result would be of no value
to anyone" Later on" he says. and get this:
"A local newspaper took her statement and
published it without consulting the board of
managers regarding it's correctness and without
any consideration to what injury might be
done TO the good hospital if her
statements not altogether true. The pUblica-
tion in the nature an attack upon the
hospita-fOr which there was no sound reason
which
that the institution has always had, and which
will gain nothing for the patients or the public"
We challenge that entire of Mr.. O'Brien.
We satisfied ourselves of the truth of Nurse Rizers
statements, from other than herself before
giving it publication we attempted to inter-
view Mr.. o'Brien. he being the only member of the
board OF managers in town he swelled up, and
understand: Were running that hospital %
nsinuatng farther that none OF ours and none of
pubics business they run il
Neither the publication in the nature of an al
tack the hospital 1t exposure on the in
formation at hand, Of the MANAGEMENT and treat
of patients the hospital the public a
right know what is going i'm the institutions which
it supports. this whether the support
be extended by taxation contributions through the
AntTuberculosis society? 1t may gain nothing for
patients for public under the present manage
ment but day the people will wake up. there
will be a house-cleaning withdrawal Of funds from
that institution that viii make very jaws of its
present camoufage artists to catter a different tone
Healthwn IS supported by taxation OF
begging, it is public trust, a private snap and
speak for the poor devil there whose voice is
feeble attune itself TO the autocratic
OF the management. even TO the public officials
them. So far County Atty MacKibbin is con-
he is merely so much putty in the hands of
Mr.. O'Brien. whose word him on this subject is
law and that of all other persons worthy only to be
y
doetored statistics Why listen to a mere nurse 81
humble individuals of the Singer and other humble
sorts. when here is a OF wealth and influence il
the community. TO imagine ones self linked up with
The whole solution of the Healthwin problem Il
easy if the board Of managers TO solve II
they don't the board county commissioners
notwithstanding their misdt legal advisor owe it To
the public that solved anyway The trouble
is and practically the whole trouble. that DR.. and
Mrs. Cobb are not temperamentally int for the posi-
that they occupy. people partial their ma
lures revengeful. and void of the humanitarian i'm
pulses essential efficient institution OF
That kind. Obsessed their own Importance they
imagine they Healthwn and thai patients there ac
cepted a charitable basis, their personal chart
ties tn charges of the public which is paying
them of such patients.
Whether this obsession proceeds from the board OF
managers downward. from DR.. and Mrs. Cobb up
ward doesn't materially matter but affords Health
win an atmosphere that decidedly unhealthy TO al
save the favored and the people financing the
institution any basis Of private ownership
social inequality
THE BANK THAT SMASHED.
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