Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-02

1 /
SOC.
which have been created in their
minds and established there by mis-
representations in regard to this
particular bill. But | believe in
fairness. l believe in justice, l be-
lleNe IN right to the citizens of the
State of Maine, that the members
OF this Senate should have the full
1actS III regard to this act before fin
ally committing themselves. If,
after understanding the situation
as it is, YOU see fit to concur in the
action taken by You yesterday.
nave no further complaint to make
This Legislature is made up of
committees. and TO very large
appointed at the beginning of the
session. Every member of this
Senate is aware that it is impos-
sible for him to follow, to study. to
investigate, to understand fully
every matter that comes before this
body. 1t is necessary for us to de-
pend very largely upon the reports
of the committees. to which these
matters have been submitted and
before winch the evidence is pres
ented.
Mr.. President and gentlemen, it
seems to me that the committee
a joint committee of the House and
Senate, and in this particular in
stance the judiciary committee
after having heard all of the evil
dence, should be in 4 position to
determine this matter more accur-
atcly, more fully. more fairly than
those who did not hear the ",idencc
! and those whose minds have been
temporarily at least biased and pre-
JUDGED by misrepresentation made
to them.
May I. at this time. Mr.. Prc$i-
dent say that | am not n follower
of the school Of osteopathy. ii |
were i'll, | would send for my good
friend, the senator from Hancock,
or my other good friend. the sena-
tor from Franklin. and not for an
osteopath l am not biased or pre-
JUDGED in regard or in respect to
any school of healing. but, as a
member of this Legislature, I rec
ognize that my oath OF office COM
pcls me to be fair. compeis me TO
consider every question on its Nor
its, compels me TO forget my
friends. and T have many. in the
great medical profession whom |
respect it Compels me to forget my
enemies. it compels me to do JUS
tee. and I say to YOU. gentlemen
that the action taken here ycster-
GcN was not justice.
/ am not unmindfll gentlemen,
of the great services performed ny
the medical profession during the
past years. I am not unmindful of
the sacrifices made by them-ot
the country doctor who through
storm, snow, rain. hail. whatever
the obstacle, goes to the bedside
and has for years gone TO the ped
side of those who need his minis
tries. I am not unmindful of the
fact that this great profession mas
during the past forty years lncfeaS
cd the average length OF ne u,
least ten years / am not unlnlhuiu'
of the fact that many of the MEM
hers of this profession have even
Given their lives that the genera
tions unborn might benefit from 1t.
recognize all of those things.
But MIR. President and members OF
the Senate, the question is broader
than that, the question is bigger than
that. The question is this: whether
or not one body of men. one school OF
thought. shall have monopoly OF
the healing in the State of Maine! IL
is a question whether or not, thouGh
I would not call in the oSteopath' my
neighbor shall be deprived or lhe
right to have the osteopath: why
gentlemen. under the laws OF the
state of Maine. even today, If the
saviour of mankind should make his
second coming he would he in dam
GER of being committed to Jail, for
healing the sick. because he didn't
have n college education and GER
tificate. 1t is a big question, it IS
broad question, gentlemen.
Now let us see what this bill is ana
what it provides. and l am going TO
tell YOU the evidence that came be-
fore the judiciary committee, ana
think am safe in saying that OF the
ten men comprising the judiciary
committee. every man went in to that
hearing as one follower of the re%u-
lar medical profession and not OF os-
teopathy. They were not biased eX-
cent IN favor Of the Old line phEsl-
clan. | want to tell you the evidence
that came before us, but first let me
call YOUR attention to what this Dill
is. In talking with many senators
since Yesterday. l have found that
they had no exception of what this
bill was, that misrepresentation had
biased them as I stated in the be-
ginning.
What does it provide? 1t provides
that osteopaths. under the conditions
laid down here, can practice surgery
and obstetrics. That is what it pro-
vides. Does it provide, as members
of the medical profession have been
telling you during the past forty
eight hours. that they can practice
surgery in the State of Maine with
| out taking a proper examination. or
without having proper qualifications?
That is what YOU have been told.
Does it tell you that. Does it provide
for that?
Let me read from the bill itself.
1.-THE board shall then require the