The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-10-09
THE CONFERENCE.

Owing to thu ill-advlsee action
OF the people Of Rayne the, train
bearing the Representatives of the
boards of health ofseveTal parishes,
DR.. Olliphant. president of the
State Board of Health. DR.. Carter,
Of the United States Marine, and
other gentlemen interested in the
movement, the conference which
was to be held did not take place
as was originally proposed, but
meeting of gentlemen from New
Orleans, St. Martinville, St. Mary
and iberia, was held at Cade
station where resolutions were
adopted. These resolutions show
what the purpose Of the conference
was and give pretty good idea of
the plan that would have been Of
fered. The Gazette believes that
the train should have been allowed
to go its way and those engaged in
this movement given an opportu-
nifty to offer their plan. 1t would
have been left to the local author
tiles to accept or reject the propo-
sition of the conference. DR.. Olli-
plant represented the State Board
of Health, DR.. Carter, the United
States government, and this fact
alone entitled them to a hearing.
Those towns and parishes that pre-
ferred to keep away from the con-
ference had perfect right to do
SO, but we do not think they ex-
ercised good judgment in showing
their disapproval of the project by
employing such unreasonable
methods.
AS intelligent people we should
first learn what thing is before we
condemn it, aud not knowing what
the conference would propose, we
were not in position to either ac-
cept or reject it. In connection
with this matter we will state that
the action of the Lafayette board
in appointing delegate to the
conference was en1inently proper.
In times like these, we should be
willing to listen TO men who know
more than we do and
not shut our ears to the voice of
reason.
We publish below the resolutions
adopted by the meeting at Cade
station:
s.Whereas, the verdict Of the entire civ
ilizcd world, based upon experience and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., shows that quarantine
regulations can he M ade thoroughly effective
in preventing the spread Of contag;ou di-
sease to healthy communities, without Plac-
ing an embargo and destroying the traffic
of the country; also, without the cruel, un-
charitable restrictions imposed upon per-
sonal intercourse through the groundless
fears of contagion from causes which can be
overcome by scientific prophylactic measures
now adopted by own country and
Europe; therefore,
..Resolved, That, after mature dclibera-
ton and after making due allowance for
the panicky condition of the public mind,
we recommend free intercourse between non
infected points that guarded by proper
sanitary regulations, to be hereafter recon-
mended.
NeSClVcO Nat LOT uiE1OSS
of facilitating the general traffic as carried
on by the different railroads leaving Now
Orleans, we would suggest the establish
ment of relay stations at convenient points
best suited to the interest of the several
roads. From such relay stations the trains
could run daily to and from New Orleans,
being tn oroughiy disinfccted each time at
the point of departure. Trains running
from the relay stations to noninfected points
to be provided with nonexposed crews, and
officers carrying United States mails and
such passengers and articles permitted un-
der a most string ent U. S. Marine Service.
Relay stations would be guarded under
strict quarantine regulations, with daily in
spection, reliable AMI competent, from
health officer instructed to enforce COM
plete nonin,ercourse. Freight trains would
be subjected to the same regulations as pas
senger trains coming to and leaving the re-
1av Sfafion All FREIGHT trains leaving the