The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-01-31
IT PAYS TO BE TRUTHFUL.

fearless, whether the statement is made
by an individual or by newspaper sup.
posed to represent public opinion, and
whether it affects an individual, q city,
State or Nation.
When bubonic plague appeared in
Edinburg, Scotland. the authorities of
that city proclaimed the fact to the
world. and promised 10 leave no means
untried TO stamp it out. That honest
statement satisfied the commercial world
of the good faith of the people of Edin-
burg, and its business interests were
not injured thereby. The plague was
quickly stamped out, the city thorough
ly clesnsed, the infected district disin-
iecsed and confidence restored to its
own people and the peoples Of the earth.
When that same. grim monster ap-
pesred in San Francisco, how different.
ly did the authorities act? The City
and State Boards of Health, it is true,
proclaimed the fact and did what they
could TO prevent its spread. But they
we're handicapped by the action of Gov
ernor Gage and the Mayor Of San Fran :.
cisco. Both strenuously denied its ex-
istence, denied that it was or ever had
been in San Francisco, and accused the
City and State Boards of Health OF con-
spiracy to injure the business interests
of the city. They accused them Of ig-
norance, deception and falsehood.
The Governor reconstructed the
State Board of Health, filled ID with
political doctors, plant tools. only too
willing to do his bidding and misrepre-
sent the facts. The Mayor and the
press of San Francisco joined in the
work of Misrepresentation and false
hood, and from first to last denied thai
there had ever been case OF bubonio
plague in the city.
Expert bacteriologists and physicians
who bad made special study Of the
disease were sent by the Government
to investig ate the case, and their report
confirmed the statements of the local
Board of Health. Still, Governor Gage,
the reconstructed State Board OF Health,
the Mayor and the great dailies of San
Francisco persistently denied facts
clearly established and known to the
entire world. They became the laugh
ing stock of the world and California
was qusrantined by several States Of
the Union. Thus was loss entailed up
on the city and its business interests in
jured through the ignorance, stupidity
aud falsehood of its authorities and
press. aided and abetted by Governor
Gage and his tools on the State Board
of Health.
But the Sacramento Bee came boldly
10 the rescue. From start to finish it
fearlessly proclaimed the truth, the
whole truth. and nothing but the truth
in reference to the presence of bubonic
plague in San Francisco. 1t ridiculed
the policy Of denial and fslsehood,
urged the authorities to acknowledge
the presence of the plague in San Fran
cisco, and pledge themselves to use
every effort to cleanse the infected
district and eradicate the disease. In
turn it was ridiculed aud declared an
enemy Of the State.
Now Surgeon General Wyman and
DR.. Glennan representing the National
Government declare the presence of
bubonc plague in San Francisco, at
the national conference Of physicians
in Washington. d. O.. in which nine
teen States and two Territories are rep
resented, aud The conference demands
that the Governor Of California and the
Mayo of San Francisco pledge them.
selves to suppress the disease,
Thus is the Bee vindicsted and its
honest course approved by the most
intelligent body Of physicians ever con.
vened for the purpose Of devising
means TO stay the march of the dreaded
plague, at whose approach humanity
turns pale aud strong men sicken and
die. All honor to the Beel May its
influence for good never grow less.
a.~.,, HANGING po.,ponea