Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-24
W ORK FOR A
CLEANER IOWA
DIR. sWEEzY MAKES STIRRING AID,
F DRESS AT MEETING OF
HEALTH OFFICERS.

Waterloo, Sept 22.-The annual con
ventions of tina League Of Iowa Nh
inequalities and the Iowa State Health
Officers association opened here win
a good attendance Of delegates from
all parts of the ctate.
The league meetings are being held
in Elks hall and tho health of1cefs
hold their sessions ia the city hail
/ Yesterday morning was devoted to
the reception and enrolling OF dele
gates at the headquarters at Ellis no.
tel. The greetings Of the city were ex'
tended by B. F. Swisher, former city
attorney. The response was given by
is. j. Bennett, mayor of Fort Dodge,
! who is president of the league. He
then delivered his annual address,
which was listened to with close atten-
ton. The address pointed out some OF
the things which the league should
aspire to attain in the coming year.
Or. Sweezy's Address.
| DR.. A. j. Sweezy OF DEBORAH, presi-
dent OF the State Health Officers' asso-
citation, caustically criticised all who
have dubbed the medical association as
La trust. He said:
| Iowa, being rich agricultural state
her sanitary problems, like the pig
pen and COW yard, are sorely neglect
ed. It is not my intention to criticise,
| for we have two and a half millions OF
the best people on earth, but we have
been unfortunate in electing lawmak-
ers who have been most liberal in their
unworthy, unfounded and libelous crit
icism. From the state board OF con-
troll and state board of health down to
! the state and American Medical asso-
citation, we have been dubbed a trust.
[ Because we have said you shall not
spread contagious diseases promiscu-
ously without restriction: because we
have said you shall not pollute the
water we drink without paying the pen
atty; because we say you shall not sell
diseased meats and go unpublished;
you shall not dilute the milk we feed
the babies; you shall not adulterate
the food we feed our children; you
shall not sell poisonous drugs under
innocent labels. Because we have said
thus and stand by our honest convic-
tons we are called a trust. do not
mention these things to discourage my
ever faithful successors; l only men
ton them that you may pull your
belts one notch tighter and be pre-
pared for the fight, for fight it is. con-
fronting the worst and most agrees
sive enemy to public progress, 'politi-
cal muck-rakers.'
zone of our distinguished citizens
said, "A hero always loves q fight.
Let me modify that statement by say
| ing that loyal fight is deserving OF q
hero, and though none Of your pictures
may ever hang in the hall of fame. you
can pass into the silences fighting for
no nobler cause than the %conservation
Of hnman life"
Later in his address DR.. sweezy
said: Now, in the name of all the
gods at.once, If 1t is worth 100000 to
maintain the grandstand, the bee. the
fish, the game and the hog, what Is 1t
worth to maintain and preserve the
health of our men, women, children
and babes?"
Some Evils TO Remedy.
The closing part of his remarkable
address was as follows:
''The public drinking cup is a thing
of the past. Our people must be shown
that flies are more dangerous to the
north than mosquitoes are to the south.
That our garbage and sewerage must
be taken care Of; that a system of san
itary instruction should be installed In
our public schools to guide and direct
the young and growing mind.
"Our people should be taught the
danger Of travelling in unsanitary cars.
and sleeping in ill-kept eating houses.
A few nights ago slept in hotel
where I am confident the quilt folded
across my bed had not been washed
since the hotel was built, thirteen
years previous. My experience could
be corroborated by many others, and
some system should be sought to solve
this objection. believe long sheet
would be beneficial. 1t would at least
cover up the filth and disease until
such legislation can be brought about
to regulate the filthy condition that
exists among a-large class OF our Cid
time public inns, and, may say, too
often among our up-to-date houses. l
believe that every hotel should be IN
spected by a competent sanitarian the
same as state institutions, and be
rated on sanitary schedule, rather
IMAM OH Lu0 IuOucTu .cQulpAuSAI, SoA
yenience and service rendered.
| sit is better to have slight meal Of
good wholesome food, cooked In
clean kitchen, than to have an elabor-
ate one served Of refuse foods, sea-
soned by names not printed to under
stand, in a kitchen not conducted for
inspection where gray old cockroaches
waltz me around again, Willie on the
bread board. while greasy old cook
rolls out delicacies! / believe the no.
| tel sought to be rated by the state as
first and second class, according to
their sanitary equipments. Hotels OF
the first class will be equipped with a
bedding sterilizer, the same as SAM
tarl,m, in which all bedding except
mattresses shall be dry sterilized at
least once week: their kitchen and
food supply open to inspection by
guests at any time. Hotels Of second
| class shall be conducted mas sanitary
manner as their schedule OF rates will
warrant, but clean bedding, and long,
Yzk- .. L.