Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-19

that time all anyone had to have to
offer his services as a doctor of
medicine was the certificate Of the
selectmen as to candidates good
teopaths presented a bill to the leg
islature for their protection in the
State they gave evidence Of educa-
tional qualifications to make them
safe for practice. They asked per-
mission to hold examinations in all
branches taught in their schools, and
upon satisfactory examination, they
asked the privilege to practice the
branches taught. This included OBJ
stetrics and surgery and meant COM
petition which the NJ. DIS did not
want, and through the influence of
the Medical Association these two
branches were excepted before the
Osteopathic bill was passed in 1919.
These exceptions were not made to
protect the people of Maine against
ignorance, they were made to pro-
tect the medical monopoly in those
two branches, and to maintain a
pedestrial of privilege for them
through their political influence.
This is further supported by the his
tory Of the attempt to secure JUS
tice for the Osteopaths at the last
legislature. The Judiciary commit
tee gave the amended Osteopathic
bill sanction after careful investiga-
ton. The House passed it by a
strong majority, yet the Senate
turned it down. The fact that the
Senate turned it down in spite Of its
fundamental justice proves that,
some force was brought to bear upon
members of the Senate to cause them
to vote regardless of the natural,
inherent and unalienable rights" of
American citizens.
The constitution of the United
States says. among other things, that
the legislature shall enact no laws
granting privilege to any person or
group of persons, and the bill of
rights says there shall be equal pro-
lection of the laws for all. The
osteopathic statute of 1919, after
providing for pre-educational quail
ification and scientific training equal
to that of the so-called medical stat
ute. and providing for examination
in obstetrics on the part of the os-
teopathic applicants, says they (the
osteopaths) may practice what they
are taught in their schools and col
leges obstetrics being one of the
subjects) except obstetrics and surg
cry. Why the exception? The In
terest of protection for the people
were not at stake, because the leg
islature had already provided for
that. The Osteopaths asked for
equal protection of the laws-which
the United States constitution says
they shall have-and the Maine leg
islature has through some force
from behind twice decreed that the
osteopaths in Maine shall not have
the protection which the United
States constitution grants them.
Why? Because this was a govern.
ment of men-selfish men-and not
of law.
Now then. DR.. Hall delivered, Mrs.
Harrington as was reported and or
dered ether to be used. She also
delivered a Mrs. Bouchard of Carl
bou last March, having to drive
through a binding snow storm at
A. M. in order to reach her. /
might also add that this was the
fourteenth child that Mrs. Bouchard
had had. and that she and her hus-
band were voluable in their praise
of DIR. Hall because of her good
work, saying that the care at de-
livery and afterward was superior
to that received at any previous de-
livery. On January Z, 1923. the
physician engaged being unable to
reach her in time, DR.. Hall delivered
herself of a son. You say DR.. Hall.
being an osteopath, has no right to
practice obstetrics in Maine. / say
she has right given her by power
greater than the legislature which
you controlled through your lobby.
viz. the talent given her by God,
and her education and training, the
use of which has been guaranteed to
her by the constitution of these
United States.
When the law court of Maine says
that the legislature of Maine has
the power to discriminate two
schools of medicine, each of them
required by statutes to have equal
education and examination and that
you may practice an art concerning
which you know no more than she,
and that she can be legally denied
the same right under the laws Of
Maine, then and not until then will
she refuse her services to those who
want them in this kind OF work.
You have succeeded in using the
legislature of Maine to pull your
chestnuts out Of the fire. do not
believe you can use the law court
of Maine for the same purpose. At
all events, challenge you to a test
of the relative rights of osteopaths
and the so-called regulars at the
bar of justice. do not believe that
you dare accept the challenge.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) JOSEPH e. HALL