New Ulm review., 1922-11-29
DEMAND MEDICAL,
SOCIETY CHAR TER
Be REINSTATED
Hearing On Suit Of Brown
County Physicians To
Be Held Saturday.
MEMBERSHIP REVOKED
WITHOUT ANY WARMING
Local Society Obeyed In
structions OF State
Organization.

A hearing on the suit of DR.. o. J.
Seifert of New Ulm and DR.. D. V.
Gleysteen of Lamberton against the
Minnesota State Medical Association
asking that the revocation of the
charter of the Brown-Redwood
counties medical society be declared
illegal and that it be reinstated will be
held in Ramsey county district court
before Judge F. M. Catlin on Saturday
of this week, H. H. Flor, attorney for
the plaintiffs, announced last night.
The two physicians in question, both
of whom served in the World War,
have brought the suit in behalf Of
themselves and all other physicians
placed in like position.
Charter Revoked In 1919.
The Brown and Redwood counties
medical society was organized years
ago, embrac cling in it's membership the
physicians of Brown and Redwood
counties. In 1919, without hearing
or notice, it had it's charter sunmarily
revoked by the State association.
Since a physician cannot belong tc
the State association without being {
member of local society, it is the
contention of the plaintiffs and those
associated with them, that the action
of the State organization has depriv-
ed them of memberships of financial
value without a hearing or trial to
which they are entitled under law.
Trial Is Ordered. =
Events leading up to the revoca-
ton of the local charter began with
the removal of DR.. L. A. Fritsche,
Mayor of New Ulm, from office back
in 1918 by the Governor. The State
Medical association at it's meeting in
Duluth that year adopted resolu-
tion directing the Brown-Redwood
counties society of which DR.. Fritsche
was member to hold a trial and de-
termine whether he should be expelled
from it's membership. The resolu-
ton further provided that the trial
should take place within 80 days ans
if it were not conducted the local So
ciety would lose it's charter.
Evidence Insufficient.
The local society therefore held a
trial of DR.. Fritsche on October 8
1918, and at its conclusion it was de-
cided that there had not been sufficient
evidence introduced to warrant GUST
ing DR.. Fritsche as a member. Such
a report was therefore made to the
state association. Notwithstanding
the fact that the local society ha6
held a trial as it was instructed, the
State association at it's annual meet
ing in 1919 adopted a resolution re-
voking the charter of the Brown-Red
wood counties medical society. The
resolution was presented without any
notice to the local society or it's mem
bers and without any charges being
filed against the local group. +. -
Charter New Society.
The State association followed thi,
action by granting a charter to new
ly organized society known as tht
Redwood-Brown counties society il
in 1920. This group consisted o
some of the former members OF thu
Redwood counties society
Both of the plaintiffs in the case
however, and other physicians VIII,
are associated with them, are no
members of the new society.
A preliminary hearing in the sui
was held before Judge Catlin in Ram
sey county district court on Decem
ber 8, 1921. After hearing the evi
dence the court signed an order direct
ing that the new Redwood-B Brow
counties society be made party
the case and since that time the ne
society has been joined with tn
Minnesota State Medical associatio
as defendant.
Act Without Warming.
"We hold that memberships in
society which have financial vall
cannot be revoked without some sort
trial." Mr.. Flor explained. I'm tn
case the local society complied wit
the resolution and held a trial. A
of sudden it received notice th;
the State association was not sati
fed and had revoked its charter ther
by depriving physicians Of membe
ships. !,
Continued on page s.} .AA !.