The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-23
DR.. OHACE DISCUSSES
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
He Would Eliminate Politics
From City Elections and
Increase Sanitary Funds.

| In spite of the Indictment weather,
more than $500 people gathered at
| the Peoples church last evening to
hear the discussion between DR.. Sam
uel G. Smith, pastor of the church, and
| Health Commissioner Justus Ohage, on
'The City of st. Paul, as 1t Is and as 1t
| Ought to Be-"
! AS DR.. Ohage was expected to make
some pointed statements and perhaps
| disclosures in regard to the city gov
! eminent Mayor Smith, many of the
| city officials and numerous politicians
were on hand. But they were disap-
pointed. Although asked direct ques-
tons by DR.. Smith, the doctor was very
conservative in his address, and spent
most of the evening in discussing the
health problem Of the city and the
work of the health department
Instead of the 'roasts" looked for,
| the health commissioner paid the city
officials, and especially the city council,
! several compliments. He declared that
| there were some in the city offices who
/ should be weeded out, and appealed
| for nom partisan selection of city Of
| ficials.
| The recent action of the council over
| the purchase of lamp-posts was COM
mended, Dr. Ohage stating that the
counc1lmen, in turning down ,the first
bids, had shown that they recognize
| the service of the. Cleveland Vapor
Light company in bringing COMPETE
ton to the city in lighting, and had
acted the true friend to the company,
as they should. He declared that the
deal was free from all graft and
DOODLE
The lack of funds for the street
al
by the over jealous employment of
voters about election time
illustrated His Talk With Views.
DR.. Ohage Illustrated his talk with
stereopticon views. The entire force Of
health inspectors was on hand in uni
form, and acted as ushers.
DIR. Smith, who was announced to
speak first, took up only few minutes,
and the remainder of the evening was
given up to DR.. Ohages address. Dr.
Smith asked Dr. Ohage:
1T has been intimated to us time
and again that the air about us is
constantly filled with germs, which are
floating about all the time. Now, is
this true? 1 want to ask why it is the
human race has not been poisoned to
death long ago? ?"
1--WE are told by the medical pro-
fession that there are many prevent
able diseases which can be stopped by
pure drink, pure food and pure air.
The health record of ST. Paul is the
best in the world, yet we find a large
portion of the sickness consists of
tuberculosis, diphtheria, scarlet fever
and other alleged preventable dis
eases. How, then, can we escape the
conviction that it is not either murder
or suicide to use these things as they
are today?'
Dr.. Smith Asks Questions.
AS third question, DR.. Smith asked:
Were you inspired to order the
streets cleaned the other day because
you were coming here tonight or be-
cause of the actions of a certain act
ress. or for sanitary reasons? And 1
should like to have you tell US whether
the report is true that there are now no
funds for cleaning the streets because
the greater part of the appropriation
was used in making votes about cleo
ton time?
1--WE are! also told that the doctor is
against smoke. I wish to ask him the
question, Why is he making this cru
SADIE against smoke, and whether it is
really good thing for the city?
1.-The doctor is also on the inside
of the city government and l think he
might tell us a few things about the
work Of the inner circle that will GER
tainly be interesting
Dr. Ohage, in reply to the first ques-
ton, spoke at length on bacteriology,
and stated that the reason that the
human race had not been eXterminated
by these poisonous germs was that
in the first place the really poisonous
germs were only a small part of the
millions Of bacteria which permeate
every inch of atmosphere, and, secondly,
the poisonous bacteria only affected
diseased people.
tuberculosis he said, cit not hered-
itary but directly contagious, and the
only way to prevent it is to eliminate
the germs as much as possible This
must be done by prohibiting consump-
tives from expectorating in the street
or in public places.
I'm other kinds of diseases, when
they break out, we have to quarantine
them and thus prevent their spread We
try to be as liberal as possible in
Quarantining. but, OF course. must en-
force it until all danger is past.
Fine Sewer and Water System.
s'St. Paul is to be congratulated for
two things. It has most perfect
water system and most perfect sewer
system Along Rosabel street twenty
years ago there was no water or sewer
system and there was not a day that
1 did not have to make four or five
calls on diphtheria patients. With the
aid of other physicians. secured the