The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-29


New York, Oct. 2S.-Johu D.
Rockefeller has given $1,ooo,ooo
for the eradication of the hook
worm. the lazy mans bug of the
South.
His agents in the Standard Oil
Building in this city made the an
nouncement to-day. The disbursc-
ment Of the money will rest with
committee Of twelve, Of which John
D. Rockefeller, jr., is a member.
The idea OF going after the hooxworm
IN a scientific manner presented itself
| TO Mr.. Rockefeller some months ago. and
since then he has been making inquiries
through his agents as to the possibility
/ OF lighting H. A week ago Wednesday
Frederick T. Gates, one Of Mr.. Rookie
feller's agents, az 26 Broadway. sent tele-
grams 90 some OF the men with whom
/ Mr.. Rockefeller had spoken on the sub
jeet OF the hookworm. asking them to
come to his office here and talk the mat
ter over.
Eminent SOutherners Consulted.
The summons was addressed 10 DIR.
William B. Welch. professor OF pathol-
ogy in Johns Hopkins University. and
president Of the American Medical Asso-
ciatlon: DR.. Simon Flexner. director OF
the Rockefeller Institute for medical re-
search; Dr. Charles w stiles. who is
CHIEF OF the division Of Zoology IN the
United States Public Health and Marine
! Hospital Service, and the disroverer Of
The American spSciss Of l.xsWmm and
ZONE or the nrst 10 appreciaS the preva-
lence Of the disease. Dr Eds = A. Al6,r-
man. president Of the University or [ir-
ginia; DR.. David + Houston. chancellor
iof washington University, ST Louis: r
B. ClaNton. professor OF education IN the
University or Tennessee: J. Y. Jovne~
state superintendent of education in
North Carolina and president or the Ma
tionRl Educational Association. Walter
II. Page, editor Of the Worlds Work.
and pr. H. 2. DriscoH, PRINCIPAL Of
Hampton institute
With the exception OF Prof. CIaxton
and Air Joyner. these men met John
D. Rockefeller jr., Frederick T. Gates.
and Starr J. Murphy. representing Mr..
Rockefeller. in this city last Tuesday
morning. NIr. Rockefeller himself STAYED
in Cleveland This letter was read to
them
Wants Full Investigation.
For many months my representatives
have been inquiring into the nature and
prevalence OF 'hookworm disease and
considering plans for mitigating its evils.
I have delayed action IN this matter
only until the facts as to the extent OF
the disease could be verified and the
! effectiveness OF its cure and prevention
demonstrated.
The wide distribution and serious ef-
fects Of this malady, particularly in the ru-
raj districts Of our Southern States. first
pointed out by Dr. Charles Wardell Stiles,
of the United States Public Health and
Marine Hospital Service, have now been
confirmed by independent observations
Of other distinguished investigators and
physicians, as well as by educators and
public men Of the South
knowing your interest in all that per
tains to this well-belng OF your fellow-men
and your acquaintance with this subject,
III have invited 60 a conference, in the
lhope that It may lead to the adoption Of
weu-consldered plans for cooperative
movement of the medical profession,
public health officials, boards Of trade,
churches, schools, the press and other
agencies, for the cure and prevention OF
this disease. II you deem it wise TO
undertake this commission, 1 shall be
glad TO be permitted to work with you
10 that end, and you may call upon me
from time TO time for such sums of
money as may be needed during the next
nve years for carrying on an aggressive
campaign, UP TO a total Of N,0OO,0OO.
Mr. Rockefeller added
Apprecintion of SOuth's Kindness.
,.That # is peculiar pleasure to me to
feel that the principal activities of your
hoard will be among the people of our
Southern States" because the work which
# proposes TO do might ''in some meas
ure express his appreciation Of their
many .kindnesses and hospitalities."
The committee spent most Of the day in
: discussion, and at the end of Il dis
natched a letter TO Mr.. Rockefeller, ac-
ccpting his commission and agreeing TO
serve OF the board. which they named
"Tbe Rockefeller Commission for the
Eradication of the Hookworm Disease"
Prof. Claxton and Mr.. Joyner the two
members who were absent. had prevl-
ously given their acquiescence to the
plan. and their names were signed to the
Letter. along with those Of the others
The commission viii meet again soon
for organization and for the mapping out
of the work which it has set out TO DO
Population OF France Declines.
| paris Oct 9S-Odicial statistics for tbe