Maclean's Defeat

The proprietor of the Register does not feel happy over the result of the meeting of the State [Medical Society, and takes three columns of his paper, including a made up letter In the Free Press, to let his readers know how glad he 6 that he failed in his attempts to elect Dr. Maclean its president. It seems to have heen one of those remarkable victories where those whose plans were defeated were better pleased than if tliey had succeedetl. A few plain statements of facts which, we believe, cannot be denied, will enable the reader to understand the situation,- including "those tears''- and why the Register thiuks the grnpes sour. The society is composed of reputable practitionersoftheState.graduatesofmore tlian a score of different medical colleges in this country, Canada, and Europe. lts member8, tberefore, naturally opposeany attempt to manage it for or against the interest of any college or individual. The best men in the society, including uiany personal friends of Dr. Maclean, believed it in bad taste for any mau's private or public quarrels or law suits to be brought before it. They did not know anything of the facts in Dr. Maclean's libel snit, which they considered still pending in the courts, and they did not want to vote on his candidacy because it involved his case.) They wouhl have equally opposed any pioposition to commit the society against him or his case. They wanted nothing to do with it one way or another, and were iicensed at the methods resorted to, to get a professional verdict. Itis afact, soraehow not statcd in the Kopster, tliat ts proprietor was formerly 11 mcniber of the society bat kicked himself out some years ago, in a fit of anger at not being able to.bulldoze ittlien, leavie;; on record a denunciatory letter, since which time of course he has contributed nothing but opposition to its niaintainmoe. Now that it lias prospered and has infliicncc he had the assurance to go nto is -lissiuns and constitutiug him elf its only lobby member, attempt to lnfluenco its work and to negative the opinions and wishes of its meuibers, and tor personal (mis use it6 machinery which had benn kept in operation by tlieir eilbrts and money, despite his witlidrawal and opposition. His interest in its real, work was shown by his the next train for home after ihe fallure of his scheme. Hls help, added 1o the active and personal seeking an office in ascientific body by acandidate.when the office should seek the man, together with the abuse of raüroad passes, would have defeated Dr. Maclean's chances had the society desired to elect him. It is a fact that a large number of men who rarely attend the society and some who are not known as pracjitioiiers where tluu livi', went and returneil on passes. Thcv were understood to be issued in the interest of Dr. Maclean, and those using tlieni worked for his elcction. One gentleraan declined to accept a pass becausc of theimplied obligation accompanyin; it. The conductor of one train stated that he liad about twenty-live. Of the sixty-tive new applieants for meuibuiship the Secretary stated tliat twenty-two failed to complete tlieir meinbership by payment of dues. Of twelve appheants from Ann Arbor, seven failed to become members after being elected. Tliis shows the iusiucerity of such applications. Friendsof Maclean, including his faculty colleagues, stated that they had urged him to withdraw from the eandidaey, but he decliued to take tlieir advice. Dr. Whelan. the presidentelect, was the candidato of the Southern Michigan Medical Society, and had received the support of its members regardless of othcr Unes. Hi had been the catididate ot' Dr. Miiclenn's frlends for two or three year?, when Ihey could not elect him. This year wheii they could elect liim, he was asked and repeatedly urged to withn draw favor of Dr. Maclean. It was very generally underatood that the faculty and their friends, who now rejoice that. '-it is just as they wantod it," did tlieir best to have t resul t in some othcr way, and vroulri have succeeded In ilisappointing themselves dreadfully bilt for the sagacity and determined cfl'ort of tlieir " i'iiemies " ( ?), who knew ao much botter wliat the faculty men wanted than they tlietnselves did! The pretense that " enemies" of the Unlverslty or friends of a particular colloge were favored in the selecüon of offieers, is shown ia the tact, that of three delrgntes to.the American Medical Associatiou f rom Ann Arbor, twoof thein were taken fnim tl.e medical faculty. Wbfle the president with whoui they secm so well pleased, and who was also an exarniner for the Univsrsity, owes liis election not to tlitir help, but to the fact that they discovercd that they could not defeat him. And now if our friendo of the faculty would learn one otlier lesson and notforget it, they would save themselves & deal of unnecessary anxiety, and foolish exhibition of patent right monopoly of friendship for the University ; if tliey would ccase the assuniplion so frequently and variously implied that they are the University- that it can have no friends but their friends - thal any one wlio criticizes their management "attacks the University. It ïuight be worth vvhile for tliem to consider that the people of the state who make Hegents and Faculties own the University in conimon with all otlier state institutions, and while they pay taxes for its support, any citizen who wishes wlll exercise the undoubted right- :not privilege or favor - to iiold and express any opinión he pleases on lus own responsibility, concerning any public institution or the official conduct of any employee of the state without asking permission of any paid servant of tlic state. The people will take care of the University, and it will endure and prosper when men whosclfishly seek to use it for