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May 5th, 1931.
Dr. Herman Schlundt,
University of Missouri,
Columbia, Mo.
Dear Dr. Schlundt:
Dr. Flinn called me on Monday morning, and he seemed
to be in quite a "stew" over the forthcoming report of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Public Health.
It seems that he was called to a conference in Washington
the latter part of last week to discuss this forthcoming report, and I
infer that the discussion revolved itself into the U.S. Dept. of Public
Health advising Dr. Flinn, in a nice way, regarding their forthcoming report,
and some of the recommendations which they were making. The reason for
doing this is probably to forestall Dr. Flinn's taking an antegonistic
attitude toward the Government's report at such time as it is published.
Dr. Flinn seemed to feel that that was the purpose of the meeting rather
than to discuss with him his work and tie his work in with the Depart-
ment's investigation. That is, he got the impression that they seemed
to have no consideration for his work in the field and the results which
he had obtained.
Dr. Flinn further received the impression that the report
was very damaging in its nature, and that the Public Health Dept. felt
that at the present time the industry was highly hazardous, even when
conducted along lines taking into consideration all possible precautions.
It is my impression that Dr. Flinn may be exaggerating
these points to & slight extent, although he stated that the feeling of
Dr. Leake, and his associate, was to the effect that the only way to
really protect the employees health was to discontinue the industry. He
seemed quite upset that you and Dr. Lind had not succeeded in more forcefully
showing the Department where some of their tests were subject to severe
criticism, and probably did not form the basis of the conclusions which
they are drawing from same.
I told Dr. Flinn that we really had little information
as to the outcome of your conference there, but that you did indicate to
us that you believed the analysis of the Department's investigation was
not subject to much criticism.
It seems that the Department advised Dr. Flinn that
Dr. Alice Hamilton was bringing pressure to bear to force them to issue
their report, and that they expect to make a report upon their work at
the June meeting of the American Medical Association.
I am wondering if Dr. Leake has ever sent you a revised report
as he promised you he would do. You stated that you would forward us
a copy of such report at such time as you received it, but to date we
have heard nothing further from you on this matter.
I don't know as there is much we can do to alter the feelings
of the Department of Health in this matter, and I guess we will have to
make the best of the report, regardless of the nature of same.
With the general depression in business, an unfavorable report
at this time would be unfortunate, for it is quite possible that some of
the Clock manufacturers would be only too glad of an opportunity to
curtail their operations, thereby reducing expenses.
Sincerely yours,
Vice President.
HHBarker: RH
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"ocrText": "May 5th, 1931.\nDr. Herman Schlundt,\nUniversity of Missouri,\nColumbia, Mo.\nDear Dr. Schlundt:\nDr. Flinn called me on Monday morning, and he seemed\nto be in quite a \"stew\" over the forthcoming report of the U.S. Depart-\nment of Public Health.\nIt seems that he was called to a conference in Washington\nthe latter part of last week to discuss this forthcoming report, and I\ninfer that the discussion revolved itself into the U.S. Dept. of Public\nHealth advising Dr. Flinn, in a nice way, regarding their forthcoming report,\nand some of the recommendations which they were making. The reason for\ndoing this is probably to forestall Dr. Flinn's taking an antegonistic\nattitude toward the Government's report at such time as it is published.\nDr. Flinn seemed to feel that that was the purpose of the meeting rather\nthan to discuss with him his work and tie his work in with the Depart-\nment's investigation. That is, he got the impression that they seemed\nto have no consideration for his work in the field and the results which\nhe had obtained.\nDr. Flinn further received the impression that the report\nwas very damaging in its nature, and that the Public Health Dept. felt\nthat at the present time the industry was highly hazardous, even when\nconducted along lines taking into consideration all possible precautions.\nIt is my impression that Dr. Flinn may be exaggerating\nthese points to & slight extent, although he stated that the feeling of\nDr. Leake, and his associate, was to the effect that the only way to\nreally protect the employees health was to discontinue the industry. He\nseemed quite upset that you and Dr. Lind had not succeeded in more forcefully\nshowing the Department where some of their tests were subject to severe\ncriticism, and probably did not form the basis of the conclusions which\nthey are drawing from same.\nI told Dr. Flinn that we really had little information\nas to the outcome of your conference there, but that you did indicate to\nus that you believed the analysis of the Department's investigation was\nnot subject to much criticism.\nIt seems that the Department advised Dr. Flinn that\nDr. Alice Hamilton was bringing pressure to bear to force them to issue\ntheir report, and that they expect to make a report upon their work at\nthe June meeting of the American Medical Association.\nI am wondering if Dr. Leake has ever sent you a revised report\nas he promised you he would do. You stated that you would forward us\na copy of such report at such time as you received it, but to date we\nhave heard nothing further from you on this matter.\nI don't know as there is much we can do to alter the feelings\nof the Department of Health in this matter, and I guess we will have to\nmake the best of the report, regardless of the nature of same.\nWith the general depression in business, an unfavorable report\nat this time would be unfortunate, for it is quite possible that some of\nthe Clock manufacturers would be only too glad of an opportunity to\ncurtail their operations, thereby reducing expenses.\nSincerely yours,\nVice President.\nHHBarker: RH"
}