Minutes of the Proceedings of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, at Its
Fifty-First Annual Session, Held at Philadelphia, Sep. 17, 24, 25 and 26, 1901 [excerpt]

     The following resolutions were offered by Dr. John V. Shoemaker, through the Secretary, and were adopted by a rising vote:
     WHEREAS, We meet on this occasion in the gloom occasioned by the deplorable assassination of President McKinley;
     Resolved, That the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania takes this opportunity of testifying to the profound grief of its members at the loss of our eminent Chief Executive whom, in common with the great body of our fellow countrymen, we had learned to love, as well as esteem.
     Resolved, That the loss of President McKinley is a personal, as well as a national calamity, and that we venerate the example and career of the President as that of a great American.
     Resolved, That our heartfelt sympathies flow out toward that frail woman, deprived by a cruel blow of him who had cared for her with such tender devotion.
     Resolved, That we abhor doctrines which can prompt to such diabolical crime.
     Resolved, That these lines be placed in the records of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania and that a copy be sent to the bereaved widow.

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     The following resolutions, offered by Dr. John V. Shoemaker, were read by the Secretary, and on motion adopted.
     WHEREAS, After the assault on President McKinley the heavy responsibility of caring for his sufferings and, if possible, saving his life, rested upon professional brethren in Buffalo and their consultants, with the constant co-operation of the President’s private medical attendant;
     Resolved, That it is emphatically the belief of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania that the duty could not have devolved upon more competent men. The prompt operation, so skilfully [sic] performed, most undoubtedly gave the best possible chance; the supervision was minute, scrupulous vigilance was ever on the alert and no means known to medical science were neglected. The effect of the assassin’s bullet was such, however, that though delayed, thus giving some hope of recovery, the sad and fatal termination was from the first inevitable. Furthermore, be it
     Resolved, That the physicians and surgeons in attendance upon the President enjoyed and do enjoy the fullest confidence of the members of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, here assembled in annual session and that we publicly record our appreciation of the labors of [54][55] Drs. Rixey, Mann, Park, Mynter, McBurney, Wasdin and Stockton, knowing that they faithfully performed their duties, though grieving that their efforts were in vain to save their distinguished patient.
     The following resolution, offered by Dr. John V. Shoemaker, was read by the Secretary, and after some discussion was referred to the Board of Trustees with power to act:
     WHEREAS, The laudable proposition having been made by the Philadelphia Inquirer of erecting in this city a suitable monument to our martyred President McKinley, therefore, be it
     Resolved, That the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania cordially sympathizes with the suggestion and doubts not that success will attend the movement.
     Resolved, That this Society, as an evidence of its interest in the collection of the necessary funds, esteems itself privileged in taking a part.
     Resolved, That the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania is in favor of contributing the sum of $100 towards the erection of such a monument.
     On motion the donating of the money was referred to the Board of Trustees.