The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-11-28
Resignation Of Louisiana
Healfh Officials Demanded.

Health Officials Demanded.
Throughout the prevalence Of the
yellow fever epidemic in New Or
leans last summer. the press Of that
city was practically unanimous in its
Support moi alone Of the Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service
which took cha1te Of ana conquered
the plague before the advent OF
frost. but also of the Louisiana State
and New Orleans City Health author
iues in their fight to eradicate The
disease.
But since the fight was won ana
New Orleans has been freed Of the
unweloome presence Of Bronze John"
the press Of the Louisiana metropolis
has been almost as unanimous in its
demands for the designations OF re-
m0val Of nr. Souchon the state health
oficer and DIT. KOhnke the head Of
the city health department as it was
IN SIS support Of them during the cpl
domic.
tn this connection the Times-Demo-
craf Of the Gath instant. edltorially de-
NTers the following warning and time
ly advice to its Louisiana rea6ers:
HEALTH LEGISLATION
Louisiana and New Orleans are fac
inE a difficult problem relative to
their health officials. and the sugges-
ton ol Lieut. Gov. Sanders of an ex-
ara session of the Louisiana Iegisla-
ture 10 settle 3D. satisfactorily seems
90 as wise and timely.
Weswere given 81 chance 20 see the
evil Of our present system last June.
when the president Of the City B0ard
OF Health. al the very time when his
best energies were needed to discover
the yellow fever which had already
forced its way into the city found
himself in the center Of a fierce poll
ticaI war in the City Council as TO
who should be his success0r-an at
tack that would have demOralized and
unsettled any Official
lf the Legislature IS called together
On extra session 70 settle this problem.
q VIII unQuestiOnablv eliminate the
slightest trace 30 politics from the Sc
lection Of health officers. That selec-
ton should De made. in our opinion.
as t Us IN Alabama and other states
by the submission TO the Governor of
three or more names by the physi-
clans OF medical societies of state and
city.
Those who believe that we can
trudge along in the same old way as
we have done. and that Il is unneCes-
sary to make any change either in
the Law or in our health officials. are
wonderfully Ignorant of public Opin-
son here AID throughout the south.
Fortunately there is no question Of
personality in the matter. no personal
objection or dislike 10 DR.. Souchon
or kohnle. only a Tell-established
conviction that after the disastrous
failure OF last year on the part OF
both state ana city health officials
there must be q change unless New
Orleans wishes 70 bottle itself ND
about the beginning OF Nav. The
Ilmes-Dem0crat has spoken as IA
foraoiy OF Dr. kohnke as any sBaDer
ln me country, and has praised him
Whenever he deserved praise. Ii was
ne hrst paper 20 support his mos
quito policy. and endeavOred TO per-
buaQe the Council and the people to-
RiolI by his warning ID was the
lrst 10 take up arms in his defense
Wnen an attempt was made 90 rails
road through the Council The election
or MS successor a year and a half In
advance Of the time for his election
and it has supported him on a doze9
other occasions: but We 40 not be-
IeTe that DR. KOhnke sbor1T stand
ln the way of the best Interests of
New Orleans. that the business and
interests Of three hundred and TWEEN
ty-nFe thousand people should be sac
rlnced 20 keep him in ONCE. Give
ann another position. put him on
pension OF $1,000 a year-anvthinc
would be infinitely better than LOSING
ne confidence of the entire south ana
bringing on New Orleans a host of
restrlctions and limitations. ouaran.
tines and embarg0es that would de-
Etroy its business.
Those who think that the onpos-
tion Wll at blow away by next year
AnoW nothing OF the public sentiment
tnal prevails Here in New Orleans
the great majority of the peonle.
knowing that Dr. Kohnke failed Ia his
task want him removed: and nom
the country. from ueighborinr stafes
the demand Is unanimous and deter
mined. 70 is not customary for the
health board of one state 10 demand
the retirement Of the health oHcers
81 another and when the MississiDD,
hoard did this the other dav I'd was
because TIE pressure from Mississinni
was too strong % resist ID was q