Montana labor news., 1947-09-25

mounting Z picture OF 2 factory - the u
Evidence Of Attempts to Foist on thee
American People Compulsory Health
insurance." And published by the
National Physicians Committee. rs
East Wacker Drive. Chicago. H." On
one Of the front pages is an extended
quote from the words of Ernest f.
Irons. MD. Chicago. president. Amer
lean Medical Association.
All. yes" we thought. wonder
why they've spent so much dough for
this job" So we dipped into the thing.
There were l91 pages. all very instruc-
tive-instructive in showing just how
far our more prosperous physicians
will 90 in their determined effort to
beat down any public health plan.
Attack Is Against Any Public
Health Measure
This particular pamphlet attacks the
Murray-Wagner-Dingell bills, in gen.
eral. and the fourth revision OF this
bill in particular. as introduced on
November 10, 1945, following a special
message to congress by President Tru-
man. recommending adoption OF a
National Health program. SO the
pamphlet is a little out of date, be-
cause there is now a later senate
bill. S. 1920. described as the National
Health Insurance and Public Health
Act OF 194T, introduced last spring by
Senators Murray, Wagner. Pepper,
Chavez and Taylor. However. S. 1920
is Just the latest revision of earlier
bills co%-sponsored and energetically
pushed by the progressive senator
from Montana. Senator Murray, and
his progressive colleagues. so the par
ticular revision under attack is lot
important-the attack is, Of course,
against ANY measure proposing a pub
lie health program.
Following long diatribes against the
Murray sponsored bill, the pamphlet
gives extended quotes from the hear
ings on the bill held before the senate
committee on education and labor,
chaired by Senator Murray, himself,
beginning in February, 1916. 1t ap-
pears that a host of witnesses were
heard from during these hearings
both opponents and proponents.
Among the more distinguished propon-
ents were Murray. Wagner, Pepper,
Reps. Dingell, Fiorello LaGuardia, Har-
old Ickes, Geo. Adde's of the Auto
Workers. James c. Carey OF the CLIO.
and many others. Opponents included
r. L. Sensenich. MD, chairman board
OF trustees, ANA, Edward H. Cary,
MD, Chairman board Of trustees, Ma
tional Physicians committee, Rt. Rev.
Monsignor John O'Grady. secretary.
National Conference OF Catholic Char
tiles, Geo. Baehr, MD, president, New
York Academy Of Medicine, and many
other physicians.
Opposition In Absence Of Logic,
Relied On Smears
The attacks against the bill by these
opponents are all Of a piece: consist
ing OF the use Of smear words, such
as Specialization" bureaucratic on
trl OF the medical profession "polit-
ical RECOMMENDATION" promotion Of for
eign idealology,' and so on, at great
length, together with feeble attempts
to promote the idea that there is no
necessity for public health programs,
that the American people must be pro-
tected in their God-given right to be
sick and without medical attention.;
that control of sickness, in any event,
is and must be the sacred ~prerogative
OF the private physician; that the peo-
pie themselves do not want a public
health program. Seemingly, these OPP
p~onents hardly dared to attack the
sane and wise provisions of the bill
itself-the idea was TO smear it with
words.
Here 1t might be mentioned that
s.. 1920 1--WE have a copy. like preced-
ing bills sponsored by progressive con
gressmen, proposes setting up a ma
tional health program to be available
to all those who work. together with
their dependents, regardless Of race,
color. creed, residence or economic
status. The plan envisages general
medical services. dental care, home
nursing, hospital service, and medical