The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-22
TO KEEP UP HIS WORK
Samuel Darling Memorial AssOcia-
tiOn to Be Formed.
Will Endeavor 10 Secure the Repeal Of
the Vaccination Law.

There is movement now on foot which
will probably meet with the hearty APP
proval OF hundreds OF the citizens OF this
State. This project is to form q Gociety
to be known as the Samuel Darling
Memorial Association for the purpose OF
carrying on the work that ne commenced
and possibly bringing ii to completion.
During Mr.. Darling's later years there
was one object ever before him ano that
was the cause of characterization. While
he was also interested in opposing vivi-
section this was a secondary matter ana
it was the question OF vaccination in
which he was most interested. In carry
might be regarded as fortune, but
while the actual results as shown by the
action of the Legislature were not what
be anticipated he received his reward
in many ways. During the years that he
was-engaged in warfare with the major
ity of the medical profession Mr.. Darling
met with sympathetic assistance from
the most unexpected quarter, for many
persons who he had never anticipated
were In union with him came to him
and assured him that their study of the
question had led them to the same re-
suits and In many instances they had
sad stor les to tell of their own little ones
whose life had paid tho penalty of vacci-
nation. Such words as these gave Mr..
Darling the courage to continue his
work in spite of every obstacle that was
thrown in his way and IL is from these
persons that the suggestion for the
organization of the memorial association
comes.
Although ell OF them were in sympathy
with Mr. Darling and his work that gen.
tleman asked for nothing more than
their good wishes and their advice. He
was ready to meet all the expenses OF
his work. He was ready TO assume all
the responsibility and to accept all the
hard blows upon mis- own shoulders but
now that he is dead these friends who
remained in the background at his own re-
quest are ready to step to the front and
continue the work for him, giving his
name the credit for all that they are abls
TO accomplish, for IL 10 to him that all
the credit is due.
The original suggestion for the project
came from Mr.. Amin ". Cheevers,
the deputy city clerk, but his letter, en-
bodying the idea Of the organiza-
tion of such an association met
with so much com men dation that the
movement may be said TO be
already well under way and 1T
will probably not be long before notice
is issued, calling upon all those who
choose to assist In the work to meet for
organization.
The object OF the association, at first,
at least, will be strictly limited 10 an at
tempt TO obtain the repeal of the present
vaccination laws in Rhode Island. There
will be no direct attack upon vaccination
at first, but the association will endeavor
to show that as long as the value of such
a practice is in question IL is naturally
wrong IL not actually illegal to attempt
to compel the children of the State to
undergo such treatment whether their
parents approve OF 1t or not, and they
believe that the mem bers of the General
Assembly can be brought to look at the
matter in its true light and repeal the
compulsory laws that are now on the
statutes.
After this work is accomplished and the
projectors of the association admit that
they have no easy task before them, the
campaign of education that Mr.. Darling
began will be continued and il is possible
that the efforts might sometime be car
ried into the other States. At present.
however, nothing of this kind would be
attempted Tor the members of the new
association would be well satisfied IL
they were able to see the Rhode Island
laws, to which MIR. Darling took such
great objection, at least taken from the
statutes of the State.