The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-02-06
Mysteries.

Rysterfcs.
In all extended 9nd misleadihg
article relative to the public health,
and the health officer, the Avalanche
very Historically deprecates hyster-
les. The article in question says:
The Sank Centres Health officer,
DIR. j. NJ. McMasters, Is efficient and
conscientious, doing his duty as pre-
scribed by law, and as he sees It, with
out fear or favor, we believe to be
sva5emeat equally incapable Of sue
cessful refutation.
There is no disposition in any quart
err to refute this proposition, and it
was unkind in the Avalanche to emas-
culate the compliment by injecting
into it the superfiuons phrase "and
as he sees it,"
These being facts, what excuse can
there be for those in charge OF the
city's finances and affairs to lay OBJ
stacles in the path of the health
officer? X To their credit be
it said that part of the council, in
GLIDING it's president, have been in ia
vor of more liberality, but their moves
have been blocked by those who
seemed to lack an insight into the sit
uation. We do not by this impugn
the motives of any member of the
city's little legislature, but we believe
their Judgment is at variance with
that of the majority of our citizens.
The council disavows any intention
or purpose of laying any obstacles in
the way Of the health officer, and that
no part of the council'' holds any
views not shared by all. There has
been no division of opinion or .senti-
ment, and that every vote taken upon
every question relative to health Off
GERS administration has been practi-
cally unanimous. ~a
DR.. McMasters has been notified in
advance this time by the city attorney
that no bills he may incur in his cam
paign against this disease will be al
lowed by the council, but notwith-
standing this he is fearlessly doing his
duty, and at private expense
The city attorney says this is a mis-
take-although that is not the words
he used-but declares that he has not
notified the health officer either in ad-
vance or any other way that the coun-
Gil will not allow any bills, and the
members of the council are not inclin-
ed to force the public expenditures OF
the health officer upon the private
81
The position of the health officer is
an unpleasant and Improbable one at
best, and the least that the city Off
Gals aud leading citizens can do is to
refrain from "knocking," even if they
will not lend their aid and assistance
in the enforcement OF the law.
The council and the leading citizens,
some of the latter, at least, are not
conscious of knocking" nor Of re-
fusing to lend their aid and assistance
in the enforcement of the law. IT
guilty, they say they are innocently so.
1t is false economy to be parsimoni-
aus with the city's funds when the pub
lie health is at stake. =
Any citizen who is quarantined should
have enough respect for the law, or
at least enough consideration for his
fellow citizens, to obey the quarantine
regulations, without the necessity OF
having q special policeman stationed
at his door to enforce them. There Is
nothing smart in evading quaran-
tine, and the expense of maintaining
it by squad of special police is an
burden upon the city.
Somehow, the above statements do
not seem ito track" It may be an
burden upon the town to
police quarantined premises, but the
Mayor does not think SO. OF course,
quarantine regulations ought to be
obeyed, and SO had every law OF the
land, and if all citizens would con-
do it the whole expense of
officers of the peace and
criminal courts could be done away
with, sffecting q great saying OF
public money. Z
. We are informed that members ofin-
fected families near here have been
coming to town at will, and thereby
making q spread OF the disease both
possible and probable We do not be-
lieve in exaggerating the danger. or
INDUCING in Mysteries over the situa-
lion, but there is reason in all things.
Does the Avalanche mean to say
hat spread Of the disease is pro-
bable, aud that it is not exaggerating
tho danger when it SO declares?
The health officer says that the seven
'sseven cases are, comparatively light
and the general situation encourag-
ing: unfortunately there are numerous
exposures from the outside, and one
IAN hardly hope to see the end at
,nce." That being the case isn't the
Avalanche "indulging in hysterics?"
The HERALD believes-and it does
rot express it's belief for the purpose
II ssknocking" or Understanding the
ation-that the prompt and effect
we quarantine of diphtheria effectu-