Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-21
ASK REPEAL OF LAW
Citizens Form an Anti-vac-
cination Society.
FORTY PERSONS SIGN ROLL
Criticism Of Health Department by
Harry B. Bradford.
COMPULSORY POLICY OPPOSED
Appeal to Be Made to Congress Soon
for Legislation on the
Subject.


ciety, whose purpose it is to have re-
pealed the laws of the District compelling
vaccination, was organized at a meeting
of those interested in the movement in
Pythian Temple last night. More than
forty persons signed the membership roll,
officers were elected and plans were made
for opening headquarters in Washington
where information concerning the alleged
evils of vaccination can be obtained by
the public. 1t is understood that the So
ciety will carry on an active campaign
against vaccination and Will lay its side
of the case before the Senate and House
District committees.
The officers elected were Harry b.
Bradford, president; Samuel Soloman.
vice president. Arthur T. Goldsborough,
secretary, and Mrs S. w. Parker. treas
urer.- Mr.. Bradford has been interested
In the characterization cause for a long
time. He is a resident of Kensington,
Nd. and is an illustrator. At present he
is doing work for G. 8. Miller, head of
the division OF mammals Of the National
Museum, which has been contracted for
by the British Museum.
Practice Is Attacked.
In an address before the meeting last
night Mr.. Bradford vigorously attacked
the practice Of vaccination as prevent
i've of smallpox, declaring that it was re-
sponsible for many more deaths than it
ever prevented. He read long list Of
fatalities which have occurred. he said
from vaccination. Most OF them were
due to tetanus brought about by the
vaccination, it is said.
Mr.. Bradford attacked also the District
health Office and physicians in the Dis
trict. He declared that through the con-
nivance Of the health Office physicians in
number of cases had falSffied the cause
of death when it had occurred as result
of compulsory vaccination. While he
gave no names, Mr.. Bradford said he had
the facts to prove his assertions. He said
that he had frequently challenged DR..
Woodward, the health officer. to a debate
on the subject of vaccination, but that
DIR. Woodward had always sidestepped.
"One of the health officials of the Dis
trict was sued recently by the heirs of
woman who, they alleged, was killed
by vaccination" declared Mr.. Bradford.
DR.. Woodward Declines to Comment
Dr. Woodward declined to comment on
the merits OF the characterization cru
SADIE. He said that he had received several
requests from Mr.. Bradford to meet him
in debate on the subject Of vaccination,
but that in each instance he had referred
Mr.. Bradford to the literature on the
subject, saying that it spoke for itself.
Dr. Woodward said that q suit had been
brought by the heirs of a woman who
lived in Washington against the health
office, ON the ground that her death had
been cavsed by compulsory vaccination.
She died, he said, about ten days after
the vaccination had been made, There
was nothing to show that the vaccina-
ton had any connection with her death.
She had suffered from kidney trouble be-
fore she was vaccinated and her death
had resulted from that trouble, as shown
by an autopsy.
Another meeting Of the Anti-vacci-
next ten days, to which the public will
be invited and an opportunity given
citizens to join in the crusade.
Some startling statements were made
in regard to vaccination. Among them
was the assertion that Capt. James +.
Oyster president of the. board of edu-
cation. was opposed to compulsory vac
cination for the public school children.
Capt. Oyster, when asked this MORN
ing how he stood in regard to vacci-
say anything about the matter. as it
might come UP for action by the board
of education, and he did not wish to make
any statement in advance.
Must Obey the Law.
1t is matter or law at present,
said Capt Oyster, land we can do moth
ing about the vaccination of children in
the public schools except obey the law.
Personally. believe that vaccination
is a matter which should be decided by
the family physician"
In his address to the meeting last night
Mr.. Bradford said the greatest medical
authorities in the world condemn vacci-
nation He declared that the law COM
polling vaccination Of the children attend
ing public schools was rank class legfsla-
ton. There was no more reason. he said.
for compelling the vaccination of the chill
dren in the public schools than OF the
children in Sunday schools and in pri-
vate schools. The last epidemic of small
pox in Washington. he said, was started
by man who had been vaccinated four
times.
Mr. Bradford said DR.. j. r. hewitt, now
smallpox hospital in 1894 and had never
been vaccinated, although he took care of
many cases. Dr. hewitt said last night
after the meeting. however, that he was
vaccinated when he was child.
The suggestion was made during the
meeting that the law compelling vaccina-
ton be tested in the courts to determine
its constitutionality. This course may be
followed, or a big petition asking Con-
gress to repeal the vaccination laws may
be circulated.
Vaccination.
To the Editor OF The Star:
During the past year, much to my sur
prise, I have noticed considerable oppo-
s.tion to vaccination to prevent the spread
of smallpox. l had supposed that the ex-
perience Of the civilized world for the
past hundred years had demonstrated the