The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-04

that was paralysis of trade, and from
whence comes this paralysis?
DIR. WestmOreIa nd's Letter.
AS to that part of your statement
which refers to me. l would state
that it is my opinion that you do not
believe what you have stated. Born
in this state and partaking of every
sentiment inbred in a Southern man,
with as high regard for my people as
any man, l would suggest nothing
that would degrade them, nor have I
ever done So
1t has been said that I have "some
little standing" Read this letter and
note the contents and the name of
the author. 1 do not designate this
man as either "a fool or liar" These
statements speak for themselves in
this letter:
Atlanta. Ga. Aug. IS, 19O3-Dr. w
F. Drummer. Savannah Ga. My Dear
Doctor: | am very sorry that you
decided to decline the appointment.
The Governor and myself still hope
that we can get you to change your
mind. The Governor has just request
ed me to write you TO this effect.
Though the Governor has over a
hundred strongly Endorsed applications,
he is going entirely outside and ap-
pointing a strong board
1 know that you are afraid that we
will not have funds enough to accom-
plish anything, but the Governor is
satisfied that this can be overcome in
a short time.
The Governor thinks that possibly
you may not wish to act for fear of
friction between the state and local
boards, or that your board may think
this, and in this event says please say
to them that the state needs your ad-
vice, and he makes the personal re-
quest of them that you be allowed
to join it. Your presence on the board
will prevent any friction.
Now my dear DOCTOR / hope you
You can be of the greatest serv-
ice to the state, and really,
I think you owe 1t to the state to give
this much. If you don't wish to remain
on the board long at least come on
for short term and help us organize.
Hoping to have a favorable answer,
I am, sincerely yours,
(Signed) w. F. Westmoreland.
P. S.-The Governor is holding
everything up awaiting your answer.
Will you please wire me your answer,
which l hope you will make favor
able one.
Liberty City Smallpox.
In regard to the statement purported
to have been made by me as to what
the president of the State Board of
Health of Georgia said to me in refer
ence to smallpox at Liberty City, I
would say that l never stated that
had any conversation with the presi-
dent of the State Board of Health, but
l did saw that the state health officer
was asked as to what the smallpox con-
ditions were in this state, and I sub
init an exact copy of his reply, and l
ask you, DR.. Williams, to note that he
stated that DR.. Taylor had written him
that there were seven deaths in the
small town of Liberty City.
On bringing this to the attention of
DR.. w. w. Owens of the State Board
of Health, and at his own request, I
wrote him. stating that no such state
of affairs existed at Liberty City. and
he took this letter with him to Atlanta
on July II, and on his return he told
me that he had shown it to DR.. Harris,
who had no copy of the letter. He fur
ther, showed it to DR.. Taylor, who de-
MED reporting smallpox in Liberty
county and stated that he did not know
where Liberty City was.
Atlanta, Feb. H. 1904.-My Dear Doc
tor: Your letter was received here
while was away, hence the delay in
replying. 1t would be a very wild
guess for me to say how many cases
of smallpox there are in Georgia now
but there can be no doubt that there
are a great many. do not doubt that
there are thousands. Many people are
dying. I have just received a tele-
gram from DR.. Taylor, saying that
seven persons have just died at a small
town in Liberty county, and 1 have
heard of some thirty, in other places,
in the last few weeks. These comprise
a small percentage of the total num-
Der, there can be no doubt. I think
that all possible publicity should be
given the matter. as few are really
aware of the real conditions. We are
having great difficulty in carrying out
vaccination, the prejudice against it be-
ing so strong that I much doubt that
we can ever do 1t properly under exist
ing circumstances. A national Law
seems to me to be the only way in
which the object can be arrived at
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) II. F. Harris.
would call your attention to thai
part of the state health officers letter
| in which he states 1--WE are having
great difficulty in carrying out vacci
nation, the prejudice against it being
| so strong that I much doubt that W.
can ever do it properly under existing
circumstances. A national law seem:
to me to be the only way in which the
object can be arrived at" When yoI
read this. 1t ought to be a bitter pill
fos the State Board of Health to swal.
low, but as 1t originated from your ex'
ecutive officer. 1 insist that you taxi
| your own medicine.
II has been stated that receive {
salary of $500 per year as health Off
Ger of the city of Savannah, and tha
| it was $500 more than the State BoarC
| of Health had. I here beg to state,
hope not immodestly. that I am worth
$4,000 more than the State Board o.
| Health is, and this is a fact, If you con-
slider the quid pro con. 1t is stated tha'
| I charge the county of Chatham extra
each case I see and treat. / would dc
it If I treated them, but there is {
health officer for the county, therefore
1 neither see nor treat such cases.
visiting other Counties.
II is stated that / visited severa
counties at their own expense. an
| glad to acknowledge being guilty OF
| the heinous offense, having visited
more than several counties, and viii
go on perpetuating this crime just So
| long as county authorities prefer e
pay me, when they could get this serv
| ice from the state for nothing. Th'
confidence thus expressed and the feei
paid are both appreciated. If l wish
| ed to perpetuate these visits, / would
| back the State Board of Health.
II has been said that have corpar
| ed all the medical knowledge and hav'
become a self-appointed critic of al
| things medical. This Is an error. /
| appears that my medical brethren Sd!
/ that I have a fair knowledge of stat
| -. I1Na .,