The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-24
COPELAND ABUSED,
FIELD NURSE SAYS
Criticism Over Transfer of DR..
Harris Answered at C0un-
ell Meeting.
PHONE TALK STARTS ROW
Miss American Tells of Words
She Overheard Affecting
Hygiene Bureau.

The Council of Organizations met at
the Cosmopolitan Club yesterday after
noon, and spent two hours at what is
just now the favorite indoor sport OF
clubs and societies and leagues and COM
mittees In and about New York city. to
wit roasting COMMISSIONS. Copeland
OF the Department OF Health for his prr-
posed removal of the Division of Indus
trial Hygiene from the Bureau OF Pre-
ventable Diseases to his own Office Will
lam ]. Schieffelin OF the Citizens Union
led the fight in support OF DR.. Louis l.
Harris. who Is to be removed from the
division in question to its great detri-
ment wide DR. Copeland's critics.. or
from whom the division is TO be removed
that he may devote himself to the bigger
work that il his as head of the whole
Bureau OF Preventable Diseases wide
DR.. Copeland).
Mr.. Schieffelin was ably seconded by
Miss Lillian Wald. Mrs Florence Kelley
and Miss Pauline Goldmark on the plat
form. and by Miss Sadie American Of
the Council OF Jewish Women and vari-
Gus other women in the audience. Dr.
Copeland was not entirely without n
most fortunate (for HIND coincidence. a
member OF the Field Nurses Association.
Miss Adelaide Thomas. was there with a
most ardent defence OF the department
chief at her tongues end. The minute
Mr.. Schieffelin finished she sprang TO her
feet
Defence of DR.. Copeland.
II want to speak on this" she cried
Being Health Department nurse
think I know as much about it as some
other people who are talking so much
about II. The people in this room are
being absolutely misinformed and 1t is
most unfair to DR. Copeland. The pity
of it is that no one except few re-
porters goes to hear Dr. Copeland's side
OF the question; you Just read what the
rewspap ers say and talk about him
Why don't you go to the Board of
Health assembly room tomorrow after
noon at . 80 o'clock, when DIR. Cope
land will meet all who wish to talk to
him about this matter-go there and get
the truth instead OF believing irrespon-
sible reports.
You have called the Industrial Hy-
eiene bureau-it is merely division
Of the Bureau of Preventable Diseases
And in being put temporarily under the
headship OF DR.. 5. Dana Hubbard II is
getting as able a leader as DR.. Harris
himself DR.. Harris has all he can do
to handle the Bureau OF Preventable
Diseases. You have called Dr. Cope
land a politician. He is not a politician,
but a man who took the position he
now holds because he felt he ought to
do his bit. though he would far rather
be out of it,
is 1t true" Mr.. Schiefelin inter-
rupted her to ask. that DIR. Josephine
Baker is to be removed from the Bureau
of Child Hygiene"
1T Is not true" said Miss Thomas.
". was talking with her not month
ago, and she said. in reference to a
campaign against possible epidemics.
that she was getting the most hearty
and thorough cooperation from the head
OF the Department of Health"
Members OF The Women's City club
arose to inform Miss Thomas that 1t was
rot true that no citizen had sought Or.
Copeland for his side of the story. They
were citizens, and they had been to him.
Miss American, in IA :, had not only
talked with the Commissioner but while
in is office had been the (she averred)
shocked and unintentional listener to q
telephone conversation not meant for
her. which clinched her belief that poll
tics was al the bottom OF Or. Parris's
removal.