Dr. Steen read the notice of the $25.00 assessment levied by the American Medical Association. This was discussed as follows:
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"Personally I am opposed to its being a part of the dues. Some members of the Society may actually find it a hardship, some may be opposed to it. There is no suggestion from the A.M.A. that it is compulsory".
Dr. Harry Thompson--"We may stand quietly aside and let this thing overtake us. This is the first assessment the A.M.A. has ever sent out, and it is something that will be used very well and I think complacency or not realizing that our situation is acute may be very dangerous."
Dr. R.E. Hastings--"I would like to move that the wishes of the Board of Directors be complied with, and that this Society establish as its dues for the coming year the sum of $100.00, $25.00 of which is to be the assessment for the A.M.A."
Dr. J.B. Littlefield seconded this motion.
Dr. E.H. Brown--"I was opposed to this at the meeting of the Board of Directors and still am. I think that the dues should be $75.00 a year, and the rest left up to the individual man. There is not much freedom in a country when we can force a man to pay in this manner."
Dr. L. Hirsch--"One of the criticisms of the A.M.A. has been that it has nor used its power over the individual members, and I agree with Dr. Hugh Thompson that this is one time that the A.M.A. should not act in a coercive manner, and feel that this ought to be purely voluntary."
Dr. H.D. Cogswell--"State medicine is close at hand because we have let things like this ride, and if we "let George do it" I think there ought to be some stipulation where we all pay. If we do not help right now it will be too late, and we ought to try to salvage something."
Dr. Hastings--"In support of my motion, I would like to say that I do not think there is one of us but resents the fact that we are asked to pay the $25.00. These same ones of us also will be the ones who will contribute, and I think it behooves this Society to get behind the A.M.A. one hundred percent. This is the easy way to do it."
Dr. Brown--"I want to pay and will, but I am opposed to the principle of forcing people to pay."
Dr. Harry Thompson--"All of those in favor of the motion as given by Dr. Hastings (Motion reread by secretary) please indicate by saying "Aye"."
Since oral vote was indefinite, a standing vote was taken, and counted by Doctors Hugh Thompson and E.H. Laidlaw, resulting in a count of 28 in favor, 30 against.
A motion was made by Dr. Omer that the Society be polled as a whole by mail. This motion was seconded, and passed.
Dr. Hastings--"I feel that it should not be necessary to put this before the Society by mail. If they were interested they would come out to the meetings."
