St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-14
IN BUSINESS CIRCLES.
Mercantile Men Denounce Sensa-
tionalism Roundly.

Said ID. r. Noyes yesterday-I regret that
SO much notice has been TAKEN and such
undue Importance given to a not uncommon
event-a case or two of small -poX in a large
city. So far as l know there are single and
isolated cases occurring. almost constantly
in some of our larger cities. Smallpox is
disagreable disease, but it yields readily to
proper treatment, and is not half
so dangerous to life as many not uncommon
diseases. Then, too, it is now understood,
and can be treated and handled as never be-
lore, so that the danger OF contagion is re-
reduced TO the minimum. While due care
should be exercised, think the scare un-
warranted by the facts, and whatever of dan
ger there may have BEEN is now past.
i. b; Myers, of Meyers d Co., said when
asked his opinion i'll regard TO the scare"
Il can't see why the people should be
alarmed. SO far as / know there seems to be
no occasion for it. If | understand the case
rightly we are not assured that there is a real
case OF slnall-po in the city, ana if that is SO
this alarm is altogether needless. Everything
that could be done to prevent the spread
OF the disease has been done by
the authorities, But instead of giving
so much publicity TO these isolated
cases the rumors to the disease should
have been quieted, and the patient removed
10 proper hospital without blare of trnm-
pets. That was grave mistake, and will. l
DeleVe, do great deal of injury to the
business interests of st. Paul for some time
h. A. Drew, manager of the Plymouth
clothing house, answered to the usual query,
Il may be wrong. but believe We are max
ing mountain of a mole-hill. 1t is true 1
have not paid much attention to these So
called smallpox cases, but from what have
heard there seems to be no danger of
spread of the disease. If l am rightly in
formed there is but one case of genuine
smallpox, the others being mild cases of
Varioloid.
II am surprised that some of the local
papers should, for the sake OF making SEN
sation, hurt the interests of st. Paul, for it
cannot be denied that these articles have
been spread far ana wide throughout the
country. few weeks will witness several
immense gatherings in this city. lcannot help
but think that these sensational stories may
influence some strangers and make the at
tendance at these meetings fall short OF what
it would otherwise have BEEN OF course
there is something in the fact that this is the
first case of smallpox that we have had IN
three years. and this may have tended to
frighten the people; but there is nothing TO
be afraid of, for the little danger that was is
past"
B. L. Goodkind, of Mannheimer Bros,
said: "l am sorry to see that there are some
persons who seem to take delight in lnJurlng
the city. believe the business interests Of ST.
Paul, have been greatly damaged by the sen
sational reports of the newspapers. 1t is IN
truth ''scare." The only developed case OF
the disease has been taken care of, and all
that could possibly be affected by this case
have been quarantined, so that theae is not
the least danger of spread of the disease.
Il may not be much of Journalist, but l
don't believe that tsensationaliSm is the height
of journalism. l was surprised, to say the
least, 10 see the amount of space that was
given by certain journals to single case of
smallpox, which in any other city OF the
same size as st. Paul would hardly have eX-
cited any comment. The effect of these
stories will injure the business interests of
st. Paul for some time Mr.. Welz, the pro-
prietor of the Merchants hotel, is deserving
~ tEn tart &c fa1f<
citizens because of the generous policy he
has followed i'll assisting the authorities to
prevent the spread of this disevse. Not only
will he receive no transient guests here, but
learned this morning that he had telegraphed
to the hotels of Chicago to advise all tray
elers, who contemplated stopping at the
Merchants while in this city, to seek other
quarters until the scare is over. His loss will
be very large, and believe the citizens of st.
Paul ought to do all in their power to make
this loss as small as possible"
B. ii. Evans, of Schuneman & Evans, said:
II am sorry that these casef have been given
SO much publicity, for don't think it was
necessary. Had there been any danger of a
general contagion the people can rest as
sured that they would have been given suf
ficient notice by the proper authorities. / am
very sorry 10 see some OF our papers give SO
disease that is likely to take
hold in any large city. Apparently
some of us have not yet become aware of the
ldCI LuuJ 81 raul Is u large. CITY anu must put
up with the many disagreeable things that
occur in a big city. These columns with
their display heads will do US great deal of
harm and all the more so in that we are to
have several conventions and meetings with
in the next two months to which strangers
will flock from all parts of the
country. l have been in cities
where there have been hundreds of cases of
the, disease and where sixty persons have
died in one day, and yet the papers paid
hardly so much attention to that plague as
has been given to the solitary case in st.
Paul"
Nathan Lyons. of Nathan Lyons & Co.,
said: II fear that business will be greatly
injured by the stories OF some of our papers.
There is certainly no need of making such
great hue and cry about single case of the
smallpox. 1t is rather a back-handed
compliment to the healthfulness of the city
to give such a sensational account of the
disease and then say it is the first case we
have had in three years, as though this were
offered as an excuse for making so much of
a little thing. Whatever danger there may
have been has been done away with by the
etficacious work of the health authorities,
yet believe that this scare will keep many
away from the conventions that are soon to
be held here"
P v. Dwyer, of P. V. Dwyer & Bros re
marked-"Well, all / can say is we're in it.
These sensational stories will undoubtedly
hurt many lines of business, but do not be-
lleve that any effect has as yet been felt. |
feel sorry for Mr.. Welz, and hope his fellow
citizens will aid him as much as possible.
But he takes things very quietly, and has
done all he could to help the authorities.
His loss will be immense. and his business
Will be affected for some time. The citizens
ought to see that he loses as little as posi-
ble."
A. Fl. Simon-People outside do not pay
the attention nor give the credence to these
matters that people at home suppose said
there was not particle of danger in this
business and came on to st. Paul with other
people, who paid no thought to it. In a day
or two the whole thing will blow over and be
forgotten.
L. n. Scott-I can give my assurance that
there is not particle of danger. / don't he
lieve there is a case of smallpox in the city,
and, if there is such prompt measures have
been taken that there can be no risk now.
have written and telegraphed abroad that the
whole thing had blown over.
j. G. Donnelly-There has been great
scare about little matter Idon't say there
is not case of genuine smallpox in the city,
but even if there should be case or two it
the city not to have made so much talk about
it. A few cases can be readily controlled,
and there would be no need of its spreading.
i have six children, and would rather they
should have smallpox than diptheria. If
we should have case am willing to give
my services to the city free in taking care of
it. ] have had the disease. l think there
would be no danger of the disease spreading
If we should have case or two. as the san
itary condition of the city is good.
Sacrificed to Drink.