The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-07-03
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON
TUBERCULOSIS.

The International Congress on Tu-
berculosis which is to be held in
Washington Sept. 21sto Oct ~ meets
every three years, and this is the first
time it has come to this country.
The last meeting took place in Paris,
France, in 1905, and three years be-
fore that the gathering took place in
London. 1t is not likely that the con-
gress will convene. in the United
States for great many years, as the
honor of entertaining it is eagerly
sought by the countries abroad.
Preparations for the gathering are
engaging the attention of every en-
lightened nation. The white plague
is no respecter of persons or of races.
1t is not limited to any quarter of
the globe, and the common ground
on which Europe, Asia, Africa, and
North and South America are meet
ing, is the belief that this disease
may be brought under as complete
control as smallpox, plague, yellow
fever, and other infectious diseases
have been by wide-awake peoples.
Committees of arrangements for the
congress have been organized in ev-
cry foreign country, and in every
state in our own land. In every Sec
ton, plans are being perfected for
representation in the. congress. A
number of the foreign governments
have already announced to the state
department at Washington, the
names of their official delegates;
while others have acquainted the sec-
rotary general of the congress with
their plans for participation in the
congress and in the great exhibition
that will be held in connection with
the gathering. The exhibition and
the congress are to be housed in me
national museum, adjoining the
Smithsonian. The exhibition prom
ises to be practically a worlds fair
on the subject of tuberculosis. 1t
will show what is being done around
the globe in the fight against tuber-
culosis, from Alaska down to the
Cape of Good Hope, form the Steppes
of Northern Russia to the diamond
fields of South Africa.
Every state in the Union is expect
ed 20 be represented in some way at
the congress. The governors of forty
states have authorized the secretaries
of the state boards o. health, the
heads of institutions, or other Off
Gals, to arrange for participation in
the gathering. In a number of states
travelling exhibitions that show the
conditions in the respective states
and the measures that have been TAX
en- to correct them, have been on
view in the home state during the
winter, and will be displayed in the
exhibition at the congress in Wash
ington..
In nearly all of the states that will
be actively represented, the prepare
tions for the congress have walked
up the people to do something defi-
mite to improve local conditions. In
Michigan, for instance, where a par
ticularly aggressive campaign is be-
ing carried on, they had a Tag Day
recently to raise funds to defray the
expenses of the preventive work that
Is to be done in Detroit. There is
great need for some place In which
consumptives can be properly cared
for, and the women of the city adopt
ed by tuberculosis Tag Day idea as
a means of raising money to main
tain visiting nurses and to estab-
lish sanatorium. The city officials
were speedily won to the women's
way of thinking. They turned over
the city government for whole day
and the women had complete con-
troll of the situation. The men yield
ed gracefully. Mayor Thompson is
sued proclamation setting aside
June Q as tuberculosis Charity
Day." The "Black Death" and the
yellow Death" levied heavy tribute
of life in times past, the mayor said,
but the people took warning and
learned to combat them successfully
Today it is the white Death" that
is making terrible ravages and that
can be fought with as great success.
The people have taken alarm, he con-
tinued, and are banding together to
make war upon it; and Detroit is get
ting ready to do its share. The may
or followed up his proclamation by
giving to Mrs. w. A. McGraw, the
chairman of the committee of wom-
en-, huge floral key to the city.
Next great mass meeting was to be
held in the Detroit oper house. In
for the real tagging, the
city was districted; some of the