October 28, 1955 Page Two THE PEOPLE’S VOICE To Your Health . WHAT DO YOU THINK? By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS THE NEW HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION LAW By FRANCES H. MacDONALD, Bozeman, the increase. In order to have good services we might do well to consider the advisability of having just one We always enjoy ourselves at the divided between Willard Fraser, Dave Extension Specialist In Rural Health Services annual Farmers Union Convention, James, Charles Mahoney and Orvin Some ten years ago, our Congress passed the Hill- of each of these facilities. and «this year was no exception. Fjare. Burton Bill, authorizing federal funds for the use of But nursing homes—that is a different story. Most For the past few years we have For Secretary of State Frank Mur­ hospital construction in local communities. These counties in the state now have one or more nursing had a poll of some sort or other at ray received 85% of the vote that funds were to be matched by local funds. Many Mon­ homes. Some of these are operated by the county gov­ the convention, and each year people was divided between Jack Toole, tana communities have made use of these funds, and ernments, and some by private individuals. Many times look forward to it. It started out Steve Arnold and Plarry Billings. we now have many GOOD hospitals. In some instances they are a combination home for the aged and nursing when I had the idea that it would be The Attorney General’s race found home. As indicated by the name a home for the aged, a good way to get acquainted with Dick Bottomly, Cascade county at­ the hospitals have been built in communities where none existed before. In others the new hospitals are is simply a home where aged people may stay and look more people, and has become some­ torney, receiving 85% of the 314 after themselves. In some states these have been some­ thing they expect. votes cast for that office, the other replacements of unsatisfactory hospitals, and in still A week or so before each conven­ 15% were divided between Forrest others, additions to existing hospitals have been biult. what like residence hotels or apartments, available at tion I start asking peopl« .. What Anderson, Jimmy Freeboum, Wesley At this time, it seems to be the opinion of the experts rental rates to elderly people who needed them. Such questions will I ask at the Farmers Castles, Leo Graybill, Jr., Arnold Ol­ that with a few possible exceptions, Montana is pretty facilities are not provided for in the federal fund plan, Union Convention this year”—and sen and Pat Gilfeather. well off, as far as numbers of hospital beds, and loca­ even though we recognize their value and importance. from the suggestions I get I compile We also asked “Do you think the tion of hospitals is concerned. Again, it does not seem likely that such facilities will our poll. price ceiling on oil lease royalties The last session of Congress amended the original be possible in each county in Montana. A nursing home We don’t pretend to be competing should be eliminated?” and 219 said hospital construction law to provide for the construc­ on the other hand is a home or institution where medi­ with Gallup's, of course, and because yes; 68 said no. cal and nursing care can be provided—in connection Farmers Union people are better in­ To the question, “Should the Oil tion particularly of four types of facilities, felt to be formed than most segments of the Industry be granted ‘forever’ leases? yy the most needed. These four types of facilities are with some hospital perhaps—for patients who need society, they are more liberal, all of 9 voted yes, 302 voted no. diagnostic centers, chronic disease treatment hospitals, some medical and nursing supervision, but do not need which must be taken into considera­ Six voted in favor of a General rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes. The first to be kept in a hospital. tion in evaluating the results. Sales Tax and 282 voted against. 279 order of business to prepare for the construction of One thing we need to bear in mind in thinking and Because politics and candidates are said they thought State Government these facilities is a survey of what we now have in planning for the care of the aging population, is that being talked about now I thought a could be financed without a general Montana communities. Such a survey is now going on it isn’t just people who are t . on the county” as we say few suggested names would start sales tax and 15 thought it could not. under the direction of the State Board of Health. The in Montana, who need such services. Many folks who people thinking about who they want­ 96 voted in favor of constructing information obtained will be the numbers and kinds have money to pay all or part of the bill need the ed to run for what, and in announc­ a new Capitol building and 154 voted services of a nursing home. In most counties there are ing the poll I especially asked for in favor of remodeling the old one. of such facilities now in us« -from which an estimate write-ins. sary to do either and a great many will be made as to numbers, size and kind of desirable not enough such people to justify building two institu­ In the presidential space we didn’t didn’t vote. and necessary future construction. tions—one for the people who do not have money to supply any names. The three most I’m not putting any money on the Some of the experts indicate that perhaps it would pay, and one for those who do. It would seem well popular names were Stevenson, Ke- forthcoming primary because of the be desirable to have only one diagnostic center, one therefore for citizens of all communities to be thinking fauver and Harriman, with Stevenson outcome of this poll, but it was fun, chronic disease treatment hospital, one rehabilitation about what kinds of facilities and services are needed getting 89 and Kefauver 83. Harri- and was intended as such. I am sorry facility in the state. Our population is scarce and out­ in your county or your area to provide most satisfac­ man got 8. Other write-ins were some people became upset over it be­ distances great. The numbers of older citizens are on tory care for a still increasingly aging population. Wayne Morse, Senator Russell, Ei­ cause we certainly meant no harm. senhower, Earl Warren, Justice Doug­ We didn’t feel it was necessary to call las, Harry Truman, Charles Brannan, the major political parties into cau­ WISCONSIN UNONS FICHT Jim Patton, Henry Wallace, Senator cus before we did it, but from some Farmers Get Something Done- “RIGHT-T0-W0fiK” BILL Kerr and Arnold Olsen. of the reaction you’d gather that was On the state level Arnold Olsen what was expected. (Continued from Page One) ture, and the failure of the depart­ PUSHED BY G OF G * ♦ * received 262 votes out of 328, making ment to use legal authority it has at Wisconsin unions were rallying about an 81% vote for him. The rest At a recent cattle auction in Mon­ stabilize farm income at a high level, its command to stem the decline in but refuses to use it. So far as Ben­ their forces this week against the were divided between John Bonner, tana, with cows going at 6 to 8 cents, farm prices. threat of an anti-union “right-to- Hugh Adair, Paul Cannon, Hugo the auctioneer interrupted his chant son and surpluses are concerned, Patton stated “As I have said so many “The most amazing political work” law in the final session of Aronson, Dave James, Leif Erickson to ask— phenomenon in Washington,” he the Legislature now under way. and Jack Toole. “What is the difference between a times the only surplus we have is that bunch of empty heads down said, “is not only how the present The threat came from the State The second district congressional cattleman and a cowboy?” Chamber of Commerce and other race found LeRoy Anderson getting The obvious answer? there in the Department of Agri­ administration continues to ignore 95% of the votes with the balance > . One Republican Administration. • • culture . »> the present farm depression, but employer groups. continues to feed it by hammering The Chamber of Commerce re­ What we don’t have enough of down farm prices when the price vealed that it has drafted a “Right- Washington, according to Pat­ in of practically everything else con­ to-Work” bill. Officials said if the ton, is enough “Jim Murrays, Milt tinues to rise . .” Legislature failed to accept the bill PEOPLE WOULD PAY DEARLY FOR WHAT TAXES Youngs, Wayne Morses and Lee I Metcalfs . .” FUCE CONTINUES TO GROW they would continue to attempt to PRIVATE HELLS GANYON WOULD BRING As for W'esley D’Ewart and his E. A. Syftestad, manager of Farm­ outlaw union security contracts ers Union Central Exchange, St. through a referendum on the Bv CONG. LEE METCALF appointment to an assistancy to the ballot. Secretary of Interior, that, said the Paul, in his annual report to Mon­ NFU head, would be “just like put­ tana patron-owners of the regional Gov. Walter Kohler, who seldom The Federal Power Commission’s addition to all the above mentioned ting a coyote out in front of the co-op wholesale, Thursday, detailed sees eye-to-eye with labor, has in­ decision to permit the Idaho Power items.