El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-09
WE REFUSE TO SUPPRESS.

II
health are now ct odds, it is advisable
that We should at once state our posi-
tion with regard to the reporting of
the smallpox situation each day for
the benefit OF the people.
First, no one will deny that there is
Q degree Of apprehension In this oity
concerning the possible spread of
smallpox that is serious in itself,
whether founded on fact or not. Be-
sides this, reports have been carried
out of the city to all the surrounding
towns by travellers and through private
letters, that have given rise to the
most senseless of rumors-that there
are hundreds or even thousands of
cases of smallpox here, for instance,
rs we heard recently.
Our positive belief Is that the facts
do not justify anything like panic
among the people, while at the same
time they are sufficiently serious in
their import to compel immediate and
continued vigilance on the part of
every citizen, especially those whom
We have employed to look after the
public health.
Hundreds Of rumors gain currency
and needlessly brighten, without any
warrant in fact. Such rumors are as
harmful to the peace of q community as
the facts would be. But they are not
true, and should be discouraged.
The people, without regard to their
business or personal interests here,
want the facts about this thing, and
as newspaper having the greatest
good Of the city At heart, we conceive
it to be our duty to ascertain and print
these facts, for two reasons: First, to
inform our readers of the legitimate
news; second, to allay unnecessary
alarm caused by baseless rumor.
This position We have assumed after
careful elaboration, and full con-
sideration of the question in all its
bearings. If we are doing harm, as
some people charge, then no one 10 q
greater loser than we ourselves.
AT the recent meeting of the board
of health q committee was appointed,
consisting of DIR. Yandell and Judge
papers in the city and request them to
suppress all news of the smallpox sit
uation, except such as should be first
censored by DIR. Villas, the president of
the health board. This committee Sc
cured from the Times and the Graphic
a promise to do this If the HERALD
would agree to do the same. To the
proposition of the committee we made
the following reply, embodied In note
to Judge Buokler:
"Dear Sir: With reference to our
conversation of this afternoon relating
to an agreement among all the news =
papers of this city to publish no news
of the smallpox situation except what
should be obtained frem your honora-
BILE body, we have to say that after
careful consideration of all the points
involved we have decided that we can
enter no such agreement. We shall
at all times confine ourselves to facts,
as has been our wont, and we shall seek
and print the truth, using our own
Judgment as to what to suppress. We
shall OF course print official statements
when available, and shall try to allay
unnecessary alarm, but we cannot
bind ourselves to suppress any class Of
hcWo luz ohy PuTpOSS.
Every respectfully.
1.-THE HERALD"
We were told that DR.. Race and DR..
Yandell would report each day about
noon to DIR. Villas. aud that we could
obtain this official report each after
noon. Other things being equal, we
u r>,,osas give to the public Onlv