The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-25
DAVIS LOMAT
Mayor Straightens Out the
School Trouble.
Compromise Between the Two
Boards Concerned.
STOP FOR ONE WEEK.
High School and Lafayette Are
Closed.
Entire Coursey Family Down
With Smallpox.
STOP FOR ONE WEEK.


able conclusion as the result of a con-
ference held late Sunday afternoon and
participated in by Mayor W.. H. Davis
F. G. Dreaming, city attorney; Samuel
T. Howe, councilman. and ]. w. Gleed
and t. F. Carver, members of the
board of education.
Both schools will remain closed for
the week, or until the danger period
for epidemic of smallpox has
elapsed, according to the opinion of
the board of health. The board con-
siders that the danger period will be
safely past by March 80. which is next
Saturday.
THE board of health came at us in
a legal way" said Judge Carver, repre-
senting the board of education, today,
land we decided it was better not to
schools open. We are still of the opin-
ion, however, that it was not neces-
sary to close the schools
No guards were stationed at either
school this morning, and the children
were simply informed when they pre-
scented themselves that the board of
education had closed the schools for
the week.
Mayor w. H. Davis, who enjoys an
opportunity to try his diplomatic skill
at untangling troublesome situations,
arranged for the conference yesterday
afternoon.
After talking over the situation the
board of health decided to recast its
demands that the two schools be closed
and placed them in the form of a re-
quest which, under the state quaran-
tine law. was couched in terms more
nearly legal.
There was no backing down on our
part" contended a member of the
board of education. I'VE simply stood
on the principle that we didn't have
the right to enforce vaccination. We
didn't take our position because in
childish way we got mad because we
were ordered instead of requested tc
do a thing by the board of health"
Up until Sunday afternoon it looked
as If the only solution of the difficulty
lay in legal proceedings in which both
parties might air their side to the full
est extent ani
The board of education met late Sat
urday afternoon and retorted in the
following manner to the ultfmatum Of
the board of health:
Whereas, the city board of health
has assumed the authority to regu-
late the schools of the city and even
to close them by force. without MAX
ing any request of the board of educa-
ton with reference thereto, and in
entire disregard of duty which the
board owes to the patrons of such
schools, and
Whereas the board of education is
Of the opinion that there is no author
boards In excluding from the public |
schools. children of school age on the |
sole ground that they have not been |
and believe that the ac-l
ion taken by the board of health is in i
1irect violation, not only of the city |
but also of the laws of the
state, and
Whereas. the board of education
ioes not believe that any such dan
ger of an epidemic of smallpox exists,
Is to warrant an order compelling any
,hild of this city to unwillingly submit
o vaccination, or to forego the priv
leges of public schools, especially
when such order, in it's very nature by
Lpplying to only a portion of the chill
lren of the city, can not be effective to
prevent the spread of the disease, if
UGH danger exists, and 1t further be-
ieves that, so far as the public is con-
erned 1t is safer to have the unvac-
mated children in school with those
Who are supposed to be immune from
-accination, than to have them min
ling with people generally on the
treets and In the homes. therefore
1t Is the sense of the board of edu-
alton that no action be taken at this
ime looking to the closing of any
f the public schools of the city or to
he exclusion of any pupils from at
thereat on sole ground of i
Characterization; and the superinten- A
lent, principals and teachers are di-
ected to be in their places for the Il
onduct of the schools during the
oming week, excluding no healthy
'upfl for the reason that he or she
las not been vaccinated.
1.-The board further recommends
hat parents and teachers exercise
articuIar care as to the health of all
hildren attending school so as to
uard against the attendance of any
ne who is threatened with a disease
which might prove to be conta gious; II
nd the superintendent is requested
o exclude, as far as possible, all such
from the schools until such
ime as they shall have fully recov-
red II
The white flag was nailed up yester-
lay and both parties came across the
Inc to talk it over. Then these two
less belligerent in tone. II
first the communication of the re-
luest from the board of health:
To the Honorable Board of Educa-
ton of the City of Topeka.
Gentlemen: On March 81, 1907, Il
wo children of F. W. Coursey, who Il
we're attending the Lafayette school. II
became afflicted with smallpox, and on 4
lent in the high school, became af-
iicted with the smallpox, and this dis i
East now shows a tendency to become II
Epidemic, and the board of health of
he city of Topeka respectfully re-
luests YOUR honorable body to close II
he Lafayette, manual training and 1
nigh school for period of one week.
This is necessary to protect the public II
health, and a compliance with this re-
quest will be greatly appreciated by
his board.
1.-The former orders of this board, i
covering this subject are hereby re- 4
Toked
Thanking you for giving this mat
er your careful and Immediate atten-
ION, we beg to remain, respectfully
rours.
s.R. S. PLUMMER. NJ. D., Secy
II. B. HOGABOOM, NJ. D.. Pres"
Upon receiving this the members of
he board of education were phoned
Up and their approval secured to the y