The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-05-11
The Small POx Situation.
Continued from page 4 J

MR.. DuNCAN's LETTER TO THE
GOVERNOR.
His Excellency, Gov. Nj. b. Nc
Sweeney, Columbia, S. c.:
Dear Sir: | dislike very much to
impose upon your valuable time by
referring to matters connected with
the way in which vaccination has
been conducted in connection with
the Union Cotton Mills, of which |
am in charge.
The circumstances connected with
the vaccination are as follows: The
board of health of the town of Union
issued an order requiring all of the
citizens of the town to be vaccinatca.
In carrying out this order in the
town proper, that is, that part Of the
town not embracing the factory vii
lage, vaccination was done with
order and decorum, that is to say.
the various doctors carried on vacc-
nation in the different wards without
any special friction or resort to force.
When the doctors in charge of
vaccination on the mill hill, or that sec
ton of the town where is located the
Union Cotton Mills, started out to
vaccinate, each doctor carried with
him constable, and the result was
great trouble and confusion. This
state of affairs continued for the
greater part of the past week, but on
Saturday afternoon the eliminating
climax was reached when a constable,
without any warrant or authority
of any description, broke into the
house of a widow woman, whose chill
dren all work in the Union Cotton
Mills, arrested her, and carried her
to Jail. The same constables togeth-
cr with doctor entered the houses
of other factory operatives to search
for parties for whom they had no
warrant either for parties themselves,
or to search the premises. You have
no idea of the great confusion and
chaos that was created by such un-
lawful proceedings.
We have always been law-abiding,
and our past reputation both as
citizen, and as one in charge of
corporation establishes our position
in this respect beyond question.
There have bsen only few cases
of small pox in our mill village, and
whatever on the order of an
epidemic. We think fully two thirds
of our operatives have been vacci-
mated, and they are all willing to be
vacct mated if approached upon the
proper lines.
We are glad to see that you read
our ciIcular sent you by the chair,
man of the board of health, for from
its contents you will readily see our
position is clear and unmistakable in
so far as the necessity for vaccination
is concerned, and also a cesire to
have the people under my manage
ment and control vaccinattd. The
statements made in the telegram sent
you by DIR. Terrence arc withou:
foundation in fact. There has never
been an armed mob on factory hill,
and | myself have never in any way
attempted either directly or indirectly
to interfere with the vaccination of
the people under my management
and control; on the contrary l have
in season and out of season done all
within my power to have them vac
cinated, and | can produce affidav;ts
from the entire mill population
together with an overwhelming ma
jorlty of the town population that
my position in the matter of vacci-
nation is as | have above stated it,
and cannot be cvntroverted
The town authorities are ready
ut any time, when called upon, to |
issue warrants to the beard |
Of health fer parties whom
they desire arrested. The exchcGucr !
of the town is adequate to meet all !
expenses required for carrying ont
vaccination, 80 We trust that before
taking any action along the lines in