Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-17
OF PRESENT INTEREST.

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who united TO fight the attempt TO I'M
pose upon their children by force an
operation not required by law, are un'
der the necessity Of contesting stu
further the rights and liberties Of the
public. The District court decided IN
their favor. But the case Is to be
carried to the Supreme court OF the
state. This will necessitate the e2-
penditure OF money And that sug-
gests the need Of assistance from all
who are interested in the result
The Board OF Education loses moth
ing In this litigation The expense on
It's side comes out of the public funds;
or. in other words, the pockets of the
taxpayers. But the defense Of the
peoples rights as against the encroach-
ments OF official despotlsm, must be
paid for by private means. The socle-
~ which has taken up this defense VIII
appeal to the people for donations,
which II Is hoped will be freely rem
dered so as TO settle the matter for
good.
There is now no actual need for fur
ther litigation The schools are open
without the absurd requirement which
was sought to be imposed and II the
Board OF Education we're content TO
'let well alone" and leave the matter
where IL Is until another Legislature
convenes, there would be no further
strife on the subject. But the indi-
cations are that It is to be pursued to
the bitter end. and therefore funds VIII
have to be raised for the purpose.
II should be understood that this viii
not affect the question OF the benefits
or otherwise OF vaccination. Both be-
levers and unbelieyers IN that practice
are Joined In protesting against
the assumption Of power
by board deriving all It's
authority from legislature that re-
fused to pass a compulsory vaccination
law. The idea that few doctors who
differ radically among themselves on
the smallpox question, may shut
healthy, unexposed children out Of pub
lie and private schools In order 60 force
them to be vacclnated against the will
Of their parents. is obnoxious to every
sense OF freedom and will be resisted TO
the uttermost.
The discussion as to the extent Of the
smallpox invasion Of our State, and the
question Of the benefits or evils OF vac
cination, has been carried on by some
persons with too little regard for the
opinions Of others, and to the facts that
have been recorded. In reference 20 the
failure Of the alleged preventive to ar
rest the dreaded disease.
II has been stated that the Deseret
News has denied the existence OF small
pox In the city That is not tulN We
and others have noted the undenIable
facts. that the doctors here have dis
puted with each other as TO a number Of
cases. Also that some which have been
pronounced smallpox have lacked the
very essential symptoms OF the disorder.
Yet We are required to close our mouths
and bow to the dlctum Of doctors who
differ, as though they We're infallble
mogus whose word must not be called
IN question.
In Minneapolis there has been also a
heated debate on the smallpox subject
One OF the health commissioners, Dr.
Norton, says, In the ST. Paul Pioneer
Press, that there are many excellent
physicians In the city who declare that
the cases coming under their care later
diagnosed as smallpox by DR.. Law. are
nothing but chlckenpox" He does not
deny the existence OF genuine smallpox.
but ne asserts that he knows Of only
two cases In that city, one Of which Is
that Of a man from Montana.
A physician in this city, who has
been the most persistent In trying to
force vaccination ana keep up scare,
has affirmed that he could not tell any
difference between measles and SMALL
pox in the first stages OF the eruption
Other physicians have disputed with
him az to cases which have since clearly
demonstrated the absence OF smallpox
after he had Dramatically asserted Us
existence. We make this alusion be-
cause OF HIS repeated misrepresentation
OF the attitude OF this paper,
There are two sides to the main ques-
tion, and we hope the agitation tina,
has arisen win cause investigation. tina,
shall result In better Information on a
matter that concerns the welfare Of the
whole civilized world. Dogmatism. re-
lance on traditions and imaginary ef-
fleets not fairly traceahle 20 supposed
causes. refusal 10 inquire into advanced
theories supported By irrefutable facts
and figures, all tend to hinder the
progress Of scientific thought and tn,
adoption Of improved methods OF fight
ing disease,
There is a fine, open field Tor inquiry
in the treatment and prevention OF
zymolic diseases. and the very changes
that have already been made ought {,
provoke. instead Of sitting. discussion
as 10 present theories and practices
However this may be, the necessity o.
preserving that liberty Of person. fol
ourselves and our children, that il
guaranteed by constitutional provis
ion. and that must be maintained a
any cost should be clearly seen ant
acted upon by American citizens. every
where.