Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-12
A BURNING QUESTION.

Major General Arthur Macarthur |
military governor Of the Philippines II
Is In two large volumes, and contains
mass Of information respecting the |
islands which Is valuable In many par
tlculars. Great care has evidently been |
bestowed upon the preparation OF the
work, and the details are numerous ana |
exhaustive. Almost everything that re-
lates to the troops Of the United states
In the Philippines Is treated upon, and
the statistics furnished are official and |
useful for reference.
IN the mortality reports which came
regularly to the government and were |
furnished to the press, the causes Of
death were detailed up to a certain date
and disclosed the fact that there were |
many deaths among the soldiers from
varlola. that Is smallpox. But for some
months these have been classed with !
other causes" why this change was |
made has not yet been explained. But |
the report OF the commanding general |
contains the figures from Jan. TO July
81, 1900, inclusive From that we learn
that from varola there we're two
deaths Of officers and 81 Of enlisted men
during the seven months mentioned.
This was q larger mortality from small
pox than from typhoid, which carried
on two officers and ~ enlisted men. The
number Of cases OF yarlola and yario-
lold that were not fatal does not appear
so Ear as we have examined the tables
furnished.
The rapid spread throughout the
United States OF the peculiar form of
disease, which has caused such a di-
vision Of opinion among the doctors az
TO It's nature. has occasioned close in
qulry as TO rs source. Whether IL may
be called modified smallpox Manila
itch, or by any other name that smells
as sweet, It Is believed by many lnyest-
gators to have been introduced and
spread through the land by returned
soldiers from the Philippines The fol-
lowing from the Kansas City World
states their position clearly:
The prevalence Of smallpox In various
parts OF the country has forced Itself
upon the public attention. The epidemic
uf a mild type that visited the region
surrounding Kansas city a year ago
last summer and fan led 20 fears Of
further developments last winter. But
year later the disease appears In yan-
Gus localities In many cases Of the
same mild type, but In some instances
" the severe degree Kansas city
though Il has a number OF mild cases
Is no worse off than number Of other
localities.
II Is interesting TO learn from John
b Darling. recently surgeon OF the
Third United States infantry, that this
is a return made 10 us by the Philip
pines for our fatherly care OF them
According 20 Or. Darling when the
disease appeared I'm New York last No
yember II had completed It's march
across the continent. following the trail
~ soldiers who had returned from those
islands
At an events. the fact that there Is
more smallpox In the country than
there has been for forty years. shows
that Il Is less important 20 determine
whence II comes than 90 take vigorous
measures for It's eXtirpation The
means OF preyention-is0lation and re-
striction-should be promptly and
thoroughly resorted to everywhere un-
IN IL Is fully wiped out
These statements aud suggestions are
worthy Of notice. They also raise the
pertinent question, how Is It that
thoroughly vaccnated soldiers not only
spread contagion. but many OF them
contract and die OF the disease against
which doctors and courts declare It Is
"the only sure preyentive?' Is II pos
slble that they are mistaken OF
course not. Il they are 10 be the judges.
In spite OF all the accommodating eW
dences against IT, they still persist IN
their determined efforts to force upon
people who detest It, their obnoxious
theory and practice, and go To such
lengths as 20 turn into "a farce, that
personal liberty which American citI-
gems make their constant boast The
Deseret News In touching ON this ques-
ton but voices the sentiments NJ thc
masses OF the people IN this state.
Against the voluntary acceptance OF
the means adopted as a preventive or
a palliative we have nothing % ray.
nor have we offered any objection. We
have published opinions az 10 its merits
and others as 10 its dement's leaving
our readers 20 judge of them by their
own intelligence But TO the attempts
10 force upon unwilling persons meas
ures which they abhor. and would ne.
sist 20 the uttermost II they were not
oyerawed by false claims concerning
the law. We raise our most positive
protest, IN behalf Of people who call
upon us for help
The compulsion now being exercised
10y officials. and pretended officials who
have no legal authority but who ARE
using intimidation aud methods that
are contemplate To- carry their point
has aroused such indignation cs is rare
IN this community The question OF
authority over the persons, health and
lives of thousands OF children iu Utah.
now assumed by one individual and
submitted 20 unwilingly by many who
know no better ought to be settled in
such way that there viii be no doubt
concerning It.
The legislature VIII soon be in Fes-
sion. Let the people who besiegc the