The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-01

Not all the eloquence of a Cicero, nor
/ the relentless logic of a Webster, could
have presented so compelling. convincing.
and all-powerfuI an argument TO the Dis
trict Commissioners as did 100 chubby.
rosy-cheeked, laughing babies yesterday
morning.
The little folks came as special plead
ers-they appealed TO 'all those in au-
thority" to save the Straus pasteurized
milk stations in Washington. Mothers
and fathers brought them down In greas
profusion. and some o. the bewildered
attendants thought the District Building
was about TO be converted into found
ling asylum. The grave Commissioners
became even more grave as they watched
the swelling tide OF the children's cru
SADIE.
But they had invited the invasion. and
were game enough to stand for the re-
suits. Commissioner Johnston recently
remarked that one plump, fat-cheeked
| baby saved by pasteurized milk would do
more 10 convince him than a whole dray
| load of arguments and statistics. Mothers
and fathers took him at his word. and
rushed down 10 the Commissioner 5
sanctum with the little folks In their
arms.
The babes might well have been labeled
Exhibit A, B. c. &c. Exhibit A, for in
stance, was a thin, scrawny little weak
| ling. owing to bad milk. condensed milk.
and other deadly food elements when the
straus pasteurized milk stations came
into its life. The change in diet had mag
ical results. Exhibit A is now a chubby
youngster with fighting spirit and pow
erful lungs. Scores of other baby ex-
hibits had the same life story.
Emile Berliner. the famous scientist. re-
enforced the logic or the babies. He told
the Commissioners the thousands OF chill
dren who died in the alleys and poor
| sections .ast summer were killed Just as
II a milk train had run over them He
said that the pasteuriZing stations, 1t
present maintained by the generosity or
Nathan stFaus, of New York, should be
year
Commissioners Are PerpIexed.
The beIeaguered Commissioners were
sorely perplexed BY what they saw
and heard. They were surrounded
by mothers with children on their knees.
and every now and then some enthusiast
tic young matron would hold her offspring
on high FOR the honorable gentlemen 20
admire" She laughed as she did so, and
the baby gurgled, just as IL he would
Ike 20 say: Just look at me. I am a
living and irrefutable argument why the
Straus milk stations should not be abol-
ished."
In the presence OF such overwhelming
testimony. the Commissioners did not
call for any rebuttal. and were loath 10
believe there was any other side TO the
case. But nevertheless they were per-
picked. Mr. Straus is going TO close his
stations in Washington January l. and
unless the city raises the funds 10 main-
tain them thousands of babies in the city
will suffer for want of a pasteurized
milk supply. DR. Taylor Jones, woman,
who has general supervision of all the
babies that are brought 10 the Straus
plant and its agencies. said plant run
by the city would cost about $4,000
year, and would save the lives OF 100
babies every month.
The Commissioners have small hope OF
obtaining the needed appropriation from
Congress. However, a campaign is to
be waged, and a committee 10 determine
on ways and means was appointed. COM
posed OF Gen. George NJ Sternberg.
George Wilson, Hennen Jennings DR..
W. c. Woodward, Or. George NJ. Kober.
Secretary Ufford. OF the Associated
Charities: A. c. Moses. W. J. Wiilige,
and Edward j. Stellwagen.