The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-18
THEY HAVE A GRIEVANCE
Parents Who Protest Against
Vaccination.
A STREAM OF COMPLAINTS
superintendent Hendricks the Reclp.-
emit OF an Assortmsnto of 4 cks-He
VIII Try to Have the Rule
Modified.

| Vaccination, the certificates and then
the fireworks. Vaccination was the or
der, certificates have been the order
and now the fireworks is the order.
The cause Of it all, the smallpox scare,
mas abated to an appreciable extent
and now there is much discussion and
not little contention. More than So
per cent. of the regular attendance of
pupils have been vaeeinated accord
Ing to the certificates fled The other
| Is per cent. is divided among those
| who have been vaccinated by others
than regular physicians, those whose
| parents are prejudiced against vaccin-
| alton on general principles and those
| who are unable to pay and who say
that they have been refused by the city
| health officer, DIR. Alexander.
The superintendent of city schools.
| Mr.. Hendricks, Is in receipt of a large
| amount of correspondence from par
| ents who declare that they have
| grievance against some one. The p.o-
| test Is made against the rule 81 tile
board which requires the pupil to pre-
| sent its certificate of vaccination be-
fore 1t Is admitted to the school room.
The protest comes from those parents
whose children We're yaccinated by spe-
| cialists, nurses and the parents them
| selves. In these cases the certificate is
| not recognized, because the rule Is en-
| phatic that the certificate must be
| signed by regular physician.
Complaints went into the superin-
| tendent's office in steady stream yes
| terday and the day before. The super
| 1ntendent Is powerless to offer relief,
| for he Is only carrying out the orders
OF the board in recurring the certifl-
Gates. The suggestion has been made
| that the board modify its order SO that
| the principals and teachers Of the sew
| eral schools may take the arm Of the
| child as proof of the vaccination. Act
| ing upon this suggestion, Mr.. Hend-
| ricks called upon the mayor yesterday
afternoon to get his Endorsement of the
plan:
know, imperative. But at the same
time I believe that it can be modified,
and am willing that it should be. I
will see the health officer and try TO
have the rule modified. think the
naked proof, the arm itself, Is a suffi-
Gent certificate Of vaccination"
Mr. Hendricks called at the health
office, but that official was not in.
Recently the health Office promul-
gated rule to the effect that parents
upon taking the pauper's oath could
have their children vaccinated free Of
charge. This rule, it appears, has
caused no little trouble. Several com
plants have been made to the clerk of
the school board by parents who say
that while they are not inclined to
take the oath of the pauper, still they
stand ready to swear that they have
not the necessary price. but hope TO
have it In few days or weeks.
A bright little girl called upon the
school clerk yesterday and said that
he jc nf oh in hn
family of Oriell Fountain, living at No.
1109 East park. The children have
been attending the Washington school.
They have called at the office of the
City health officer three times, and
each time that officer sent them away
without vaccination. The family is
poor and unable to pay for the sefv-
ices of a doctor.
Agnes Sullivan, who lives with her
widowed mother and a sister, who Is
the sole support of the family, was
also refused by the city health officer.
SO she told the clerk.
These" said the clerk. "are only
two of many similar cases that have
come to our notice within the past
few days"
Superintendent Hendricks was unable
to find DR.. Alexander, the city physi-
clan, yesterday, and he interviewed a
few members Of the school board with
EtlGTeHCe-lO dulIlllIllB VII LAG
strength of the naked vaccination. He
received instructions from the chair
man of the board to admit any person
who can show positive proof Of effee-
tive vaccination, even If the certifi-
cate is not to be had. Therefore chill
dren who have been successfully vac
cinated. no matter by whom, are en-
titled to admission to the schools.
Up to date 4,30O certificates Of vaccl-
nation have been filed. This Is little
more than IS per cent of the daily at
tendance. A reporter for the Standard
called at DR.. Alexanders Office several
times yesterday. but was unable to
find that official.
Mr.. Hendricks says: II realize the
position the city physician Is in regard
ing hts vaccination proposition. He has
no doubt had occasion to call halt on
the stream Of children that has poured
into his Office during the past two
weeks. Whether or not there are chill
dren who have not been vaccinated on
account of his recent order is a matter
that i am not prepared to discuss. 1t
has been said that he has discriminat-
ed to the extent that really INDECENT
children have been compelled to fore
go the operation of vaccination. But
as to that I cannot speak definitely"