Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-08

that the world has to offer for the pre-
vcntion and cure of tuberculosis.
In the work of the preliminary or
Eanizltion the committee has adopted
Il policy which seeks to make the char
actCrStics of our political structure
quite clear to the foreign visitors. The
committee is not sending its invita-
lions directly to private individuals
who are Interested in tuberculosis, nor
to institutions. nor to organizations,
official or unofficial. The committee
has invited the governors of all the
states, requesting them, III turn. to in
wife their municipalities and other 10
cal agencies. either directly or through
some department of state government.
BY this means the committee hopes to
have the states participate as units
and give an account of all the forces
engaged against tuberculosis within the
limits Of each state. The restriction
Of tuberculosis is q political problem,
quite as much as it is Il social or med
zeal problem, and by extending its or
ganizatiOn alon" official lines. the con-
grcss will probably secure the largest
ana most enduring benefits to the
country, and 1T the same time repre-
scrt the country i'll the most favorable
way to foreign visitors.
The International Congress will cost
4 good deal of money. The national
association will provide a fund of $780,
COO, and this sum will come chiefly
from the private purses of Il few
wealthy ana enlightened men, who sec
in this congress an opportunity 80 give
i tremendous impetus to the movement
against tuberculosis. An undertaking
which Will bring all the energies now
engaged in the worlds combat against
tuberculosis to Il focus in Washington
for nearly 4 month, will undoubtedly
leave Il permanent impress on the
whole country and will yield large re-
turns for the money invested. One
hundred thousand dollars is quite Il
snug sum of money. but it is Il very
small part of the value which the con-
@r"SS and the exhibition will bring into
existence. When the 40 states grow
busy in preparation; when state boards
of health, dairy commissions. tubercu-
l"&is commissions, live stock boards,
schools Of agriculture. medical schools
research laboratories, city health dc
partncntS, and the numerous unofficial
agencies dealing directly with the
tub, rrul"siS problem, begin to make
| ready for the international Congress
| m Tuberculosis. substantial values will
accumulate at Il great rate. The initial
enthusiasm has not waited for Il signal
from the committee on organization.
Public officials in more than dozen
states. and in eight or ten federal
bureaus. are already active in anticf-
lpatiJn Of the congress, 50 that the task
| Of organization is found i'll a growing
state before the national association,
Inc chief sponsor for the congress.
| lays hand upon il. The chief con
Germ of the national association is To
coordinate all these bCns ticcnt forces
giving them accurate range and we'll
/ dctinCd objects. 50 that they NAV
strike with lfc-SaVing effect in every
\ corner of thc country. The event 81
\ the current quarter Ccntury-ihat is
/ what the International Congress on
! Tuberculosis will be for physicians and
humanitaraNS: ana for the American
people. the choicest opportunity ever
nti"rvG for = massive movement against
tnc greatest Of rcmcdahlc Scourgcs
Such are the views Of the natiOna
association about tie Forthcoming
congress on tuberculosis, and it vii
mot be allowed to come and go as al
event of merely unusual interest
From now till the middle of September
190S, the labor Of preparation will moi
Ecca=c. If SinGlcness Of purpose and
work without stini -"WIrd the assOcia.
jtipn according to it, "tth. the congress
Will leave a substat VI deposit o