The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1944-03-09
After 10 Years of Giving. America Begins
to Wonder
Seattle Timesl

Seattle Tines
| Sister Elizabeth Kenny is reconsiderng her recent
decision to leave the United States because OF INSULT
Gent financial support A group OF New York civic
and business leaders is reported ready to make il
possible for her to carry on her work and teaching at
a medical institute in that city.
Sister Kenny, as nearly everyone knows, is the
Australian army nurse who originated a system of
Australia spread around the world. She was induced
to to the United States, where the people, by
various means recent years, have been kept keeny
of the perls of polio and the need of constant
effort for prevention and cure
Sister Kenny's work in this country has been
mainly in training students in her method at an
institute bearing her own name in Minneapolis. Many
have taken this training. Early this month Sister
Kenny announced that she must leave the United
States because of lack OF money continue the fight
"n the way have found best" She needed she
said not less than $l50000 year to carry on
Now there is reason to hope that Sister Kenny's
departure may be delayed. If she remains, 1t will be
with support from private sources. In such cir
cunstances is Only natural that many should wonder
why the necessities of her case seem not to have
warranted sufficient support from the prodigious
amount of money that has been collected during the
past years for the fight against infantie paralysis
On hearing of her decision to quit the United
States for lack money, President Basil OConner
of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis said
there has been break between his organization
and Sister Kenny
No doubt that is true There could be no break
except of previously helpful relations and there is
evidence that Mr.. OConners organization and Sister
Kenny stood in any such relations at any time. No
quasi public organization in the country has been
given as much money as his. Sister Kenny about
to leave because she has of it, enough from
any source
We would not make pretense of enough knowledge
to pass Judgment Sister Kenny or her method.
reputation speaks for itself and there has been
little fortnight question of the beneficial results from
the treatment she devised The point of the matter
is, that with huge abundance of money available
for investigation experiment preventive and curative
work, Sister Kenny has been left to founder.
Every year, beginning with President Rooseyets
first birthday anniversary in the White House, Janu-
airy, 1884. there have been great balls and innumer
able lesser social gatherings in virtually every city
and town in the land, all to raise money for the
foundation which Mr.. Roosevets former law
partner Mr.. OConner, has been installed president.
OF later years, the proceeds of such philanthropc
parties have been supplemented by the Mile of
Dimes" intake. We have least idea how much
money has thus been contributed. No doubt Mr..
OConner's organization keeps books; but to
amounts received and the nature of disbursements,
the public seems wholly uninformed
The Presidents profound interest in the matter
is unquestioned and understandable. The incidence
of infantile paralysis in this country SO
high during 1943 after the foundation fight it
had been in operation more than nine years
This is the last year of the Presidents third
term By what inspiration or means will the founda-
ton be sustained should some else happen to
supersede him in the White House before his next
birthday?