The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-23
No Time to Be Lenient.

| In all that concerns the sanitary con-
dition of the city, this is no time to be
lenient. 1t is no time to tolerate the
existence here of conditions that would
| foster an epidemic. Every ordinance
that looks to the protection of the pub
| lie health and the prevention of disease
| should be enforced to the letter and
unfiinchingly. Thus much the public
| expects of the health Office, of the DO
lice department and OF the city council.
1t is not necessary to be an alarmist,
but merely to look facts in the face to
see that anything short of this policy
would be criminal. 1t is at last ac-
knowledged that the bubonic plague has
reached San Francisco. A case Of 1t
occurred two and a half months ago.
Half dozen Chinese in all have fallen
victims TO 1t. The wicked and foolish
policy Of suppressing the facts has made
this interval one within which the whole
country was exposed to danger. BY
their selfishness. their unwillingness to
sacrifice one dollar OF business, no
matter what the cost to others might
be. the authorities Of San Francisco
have exposed every city of the country
to contagion.
We feel no apprehension here. and
there Is little apparent cause; at the
same time it would be foolhardy to
neglect simple and ordinary precautions.
No one knows how many people came
into contact with the plague smitten
ones while San Francisco kept silent lest
quarantine should be established, or tc
what centers these living carriers OF
contagton may have fie1. We know not
at what moment some of those now
under supervision may elude their
watchers, in their insane dread OF pre-
ventive incubation. and find refuge
elsewhere on the coast II Is our part
TO prepare ourselves for danger which
is not threatening. but Is also not i'm
possible
The bubonic plague Is pre-eminently
Nth disease. 1t does not spare those
who live cleanly in its attacks. but its
entrance to a city is always in the
lowest quarter. There its ravages are
greatest, and thence II may be carried
far and wide by vermiR. The despair
Of Australian cities in their attempt to
control it should teach every comnu-
nifty the Importance and the ease Of
prevention instead Of cure. There IS
one thing that all can do. They can
eradicate the foul places which are the
proper receptacleS and breeding SPOTS
for such A disease They can enforce
sanitary regulations under severe PEN
alties They can. more particularly.
compel the Chinese and japanese. who
are SO often the vehicles Of infection
and the first attacked. 10 obey the rules
of health
That is what We ask may BE i),te in |
the case u Seattle The public has been /
given TO understand that the japanese |
lodging houses here are oyercr,-y ia !
ANA that their arrangements do not con !
rru t. the law. II Is said that this is /
due 70 the Nome rush. and thar we |
must not he too imperative with China |
town at present. Why? What possible |
excuse is there for permitting these
people to create a nuisance and 70 In
vite possible calamity for the whole
community? When viii conditions i'm
prove unless Improvement is COM
PEELED? The Nome movement has less to
do with 1t than immigration; and Il we
wait for these people to respect our
sanitary regulations. we may wait for
ever We have competent and ener-
getie health officer. We have a board