St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-24
HEALTH COMMISSIONER STONE
LOOKS FOR DIPHTHERIA
AT THE GOLDEN RULE,
BUT THERE Is NONE THERE.
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
WAS MADE AMONG THE
400 EMPLOYEES. ~}i-3.,~
THIS -sILENCEs THE REPORTS.
No One at the Establishment Re-
sides Within IL Block of Where
the Disease Is Located.

A single blow rang out loudly on
the big gong at the head Of the main
stairway. 1t was the Golden Rule
department store on Seventh street
at 1920 last night.
"Now we quit work." said a little
brunette clerk, throwing back her
shoulders with a long breath. ,.
Two more blows.
''Now we cover up the things" she
said, and she Joined her companions
in spreading over the packed .coun-
ters and shelves immense covers Of
blue striped cotton.
"And now," as the gong struck
three-"and now, she said, 1--WE skip"
But the small brunette made a mis-
take. About 400 other mistakes were
made at the same moment. The little
girl did not skip. None of the en-
ployes skipped. When the first would
be skipper arrived at the great front
doors through which all clerks are
obliged to pass, to go home, he met
tall, affable gentleman wearing a seal
skin cap and overcoat. Just beyond
him an improvised doorkeeper held
his ground like the Roman guard at
Pompeii, and permitted no one but
stray customers to pass outside.
EVERY one of you, ladies or gentle
men," announced the fur-clad gentle
man, Twill hand to me before you go
home slip showing your name, your
address, stating whether you know
of any cases of diphtheria in this store
within the last ten days."
When each one had done as ordered
the man at the door who was DR.. A.
]. Stone, city health commissioner ac-
companied by his assistant Inspector
Sinks, took over to the health depart
ment 1856 slips.
Dr. Stone has been harrassed for sew
eral days with complaints that diph-
liberia was rampant at the Golden
Rule. Yesterday it was asserted that
nearly fifty cases had appeared among
the employees at that establishment.
But the slips collected last night were
compared by the health departments
diphtheria record. With one exception
not a. single employe was found to live
within a block of any house from
which diphtheria has been reported
within two weeks. In one case a girl
gave her address at 970 Beach street,
where an infant died of diphtheria Dec.
2, But there have been no other cases,
and the house was disinfected Eight
cen employees not accounted for are
presumed to be drivers. They will be
hunted up this morning.
Said DIR. Stone after the investiga-
ton: I'm entirely convinced now
that these rumors are totally without
founda ton. There is no diphtheria at
the Golden Rule. 1 shall not quaran-
tine the store or think of doing so.
L was so sure of the falsity of the re-
port that I sent my wife to the store
this afternoon to make some pur-
chases. began my Inquiries last Fri
day, ,.:when the rumors were first start
ed"
Manager Joseph Elsinger said last
night that the reports had probably
been started by rival concerns. They
had not injured his firms business,
which is now larger than the employees
can attend to. Not less than 10000 GUS
toners passed through the establish
ment each day during the past week.
eve knew Of these rumors," said he,
land asked DR.. Stone to come and
make an investigation. He came and
found out, what we knew all along,
that there was no diphtheria here and
none had been here"