The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-11
Storrs Regime Is Bearing Its
Fruit.
Contagious Diseases Show an
Alarming Prevalence.
MANY CASES MEASLES.
The Sanitary officers Are Kept
Busy.
Public Still Kept in Ignorance
Of Facts.

There is an epidemic in Topeka, and
City Physician Willis D. Storrs is sup
pressing information about it.
1t is impossible to learn definitely how
many cases of contagious disease now
exist, but it is certain that since Storrs
took office the number Of cases has
leaped UP from almost nothing to most
formidable proportions
At the present time there are prob
ably hundreds of cases of contagious
disease. Storrs will not tell how many,
and he has sealed the lips Of every one
of his employees.
Chickenpox and smallpox have broken
out again. It was learned this morning
that Storrs' system is having its natural
result. People are suppressing informa-
ton about contagious disease them
selves, because they lack confidence in
the present management. The health
department was informed today Of a
case of chickenpox which has existed
for some time. with no attempt at
quarantine There is a spread of small
pox on East Hill. which was almost
checked when DR.. Judd left Office.
1t is reported that measles is more
prevalent than for years. 1t is said thar
a hundred new cases have developed
within a week.
a reporter for the State Journal ven
tured into the city physicians Office at
the city hall this morning While in the.
Office the reporter was permitted to re-
main without a blndfold. and he saw
sanitary Policemen Charles Jones start
off on his beat with a dozen quarantine
cards for measles under his arm. There
are three other sanitary policemen, and
the work IS divided equally between
them. This means an increase of fifty
cases of measles since last Saturday
4 formal demand was made today by
STATE journal reporter to be allowed to
examine the records of the health de-
oartment on the subject Of contagious
diseases, and find out the truth of thu
situation, but the request was denied.
1t IS very evident that Storrs is trv-
ing 20 Keep people in ignorance of the
1t needs but little more of this
oAorrs system to 1naugurate a reign of
terror IN Topeka 1t Is only necessary
to have eyes to observe the spread Of
contaglon- Chickenpox, measles and
d1phtherla cards are appearing in all
parts of town. The city is menaced. BY
grave danger. and Storrs. who seems to
assume that people hold him response
fuses to let the public know the true
situation.
Storrs may not be to blame for the
existing conditions but he certainly is
TO blame for suppressing the truth
While the reporter was allowed to re-
main in the city physicians office this
morning, for a period of about ten min
utes, three different cases of measles
and one new case of chickenpox were
reported AS the telephone is in the
public office, the reporter could not
avoid hearing the following addresses
given:
SIS North Kansas avenue.
61S Tyler street.
1914 North Topeka avenue.
These are the locations of new cases
of measles. The location of the chicken
pox, or smallpox, case, could not be OBJ
tanned.
Telephone calls were coming in con-
tinuously all the forenoon. filing up
the pages of the record for contagious
diseases, which the public is not al
lowed to see.
There is a case of measles in the fam
lily of H. u Nudge, general manager of
the Santa Fe railway. The house is
quarantined, but the quarantine is not
very strictly enforced, as is the Gus
tom.
When Sanitary Sergeant VanderpooI
was asked this morning to have some
Information about the spread of con-
tagion, he said: You'll have to see DR..
Storrs for any information"
Storrs has repeatedly refused to give
out any information about contagious
diseases.
storrs is a very young physician and has
not had much experience. and it is to be
hoped that when Mayor Bergundthal ap-
points the other members of the board OF
health. he viii appoint old and reliable
practitioners who will serve to in some
measure counterbalance the startling in
rovations which Storrs is trying to foist
upon the city regardless of the rights of
the public.
If the rumors of a terrible epidemic are
unfOunded. Storrs is to blame. He is try
ing to run the health department on a new
and wonderful system of suppressing IN
formation and where there is public bust
ness which is concealed from the public
/ Deople have a right to be suspicious There
/ is no other department of the city admin
istration where such a system of suppress
sion would be tolerated for moment