The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-10-19
The McCone County Hospital

II UudU ISSU0 " JIG JIG DduIGr WHICH Was
published August 31st, 1918, there appeared an arti-
Gle signed as follows: From the Central Part of Nc
Cone County,"
The article was camouflaged as to make it ap-
pear voluntary contribution from some Vida resi-
dent, but any person who has read the Banner for any
length of time will readily recognize Ben Larson's
unmistakable English.
The whole article was only silly nonsense and as
usually the case with articles of this kind appearing
in the Banner, full of distorted facts misleading state
ments.
In some other article the Horsford for Commits
sioner Club will discuss the question whether or not
McCone county has saved any money because of the
establishment and publication of the McCOne County
News for two years. In this article the McCone
County Hospital will be considered.
1t is unfortunate that the county hospital must
be made the target for the criticisms of Horsford's
enemies, but Ben Larson and his gang although they
have examined every claim that Horsford has ever
ubmitted to McCone county in order to find any
possible overcharge for services rendered, although
they examined every deed and action of his while a
member of the McCone County board in order to find
anything at all to use against him in their attempt to
discredit him and thus rid themselves of an obstacle
in the way of their efforts to graft from the county.
Yet they are reduced to the sorry spectacle of having
to attack a public institution for the care of such I'M
fortunate people as may need the services OF a
physician and the better care which a hospital can
render.
A county hospital, like our schools, like our pub
lie mail service, or like our free roads, is not self sup
porting, ana ike Cno Cnr00 1USIlCuClOHS uoLIlOuou III
must be financed by public taxes, and also like the
institutions mentioned it's blessings do not fall equal
" upon all who contribute to it's support, the man
may be taxed to support a hospital ana never know a
dav of sickness in his life, another may pay school
taxes with no children to educate, a third may pay
road taxes on a road he may never use, although
pays the same to support the United
States mail, yet some may have to travel some 10 or
20 miles to get their mail, once a week while to others
it is delivered to their door every day.
Hospitals even in the largest cities are seldom
self-supporting. You will find that a majority OF
them are either public property or denominations
where Gifts or requests form q large part of their in
come.
In an isolated community such as McCone coun-
ty no private agency Of any kind would consider the
financing of a hospital. If a hospital is desired IN
such a community the only recourse is public owner
ship under the supervision of the county commission
erS.
In the flush of health we may decry the expenses
necessary to support a hospital and feel the cost IS a
useless and unnecessary expense, but we know not
at what minute some dread disease or accidnt may
strike us down, and the better care a hospital can rem
NAV be the means of saving our lives.
A hospital in a community is also necessary IN
order to procure the services of a good doctor. NO
doctor desires to work without a hospital facilities
and the better doctors will practice only in such
places where they have the advantages OF up to date
hospital equipment. No modern doctor for example
would consider setting a broken bone without an
X-ray.