The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder.

  • Turner, J. Edward, 1822-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and on tlie fifth day of the meeting of the legislature he introduced a bill to this effect. As soon as the writer could reach Albany (after the bill was introduced), he called on Mr. Finch, and requested him to withdraw the bill on the ground that such a measure would not meet with the approval of the majority of his constituents. Mr. Finch replied that he had consulted a large number of the influential citizens of his distiict, and that they were in accord with his plan of repeal; he had also con- sulted with members of both houses of the legislature in reference to the measure, and they also had endorsed it. “ I have reason to believe,” said Mr. Finch, “ that the bill will pass both houses unanimously, and I shall have the pleasure of seeing it a law within sixt}^ days.” The writer then stated that he should appeal to his con- stituents for the protection of the Asylum’s chartei’, and M'ould leave the next morning for Keeseville the honor- aide membe]‘’s home, to canvass his county. Tliree weeks and a half were spent by the writer in this Avork, and in that time he secured the name of every promi- nent man in the county to a petition to the legislature for an aj^propriation of twenty per cent, of the excise moneys to the Asylum, at the same time securing more than eighty of the petitioners as stockholders; and more than sixty of the leading men of the county wi'ote to the Hon. Mr. Finch urging that gentleman to use his influence to ]'>rocure the passage of a lau' appro2'>riating douhle the amount of the excise moneys then being received by the Asylum. The result of the campaign through Essex county proved to the honorable member that the peojdo in his district were intensely interested in the Asylum, and the l)ill for the repeal of its charter was withdraAvn by the honoi'able member from the hands of the committee to whom it was referred.