The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-15
VIGOROUS DISCUSSION
OVER VACCINATION
CONTINUED from first page.l

der compulsory vaccination and cor
responding decrease in the death rate
where no attempt had been mace at
vaccination. He referred to tetanus as
following many cases of vaccination anc
cited Burlington's epidemic of smallpox
l6 years ago in this respect. when three
deaths were the result lie argued taat
| in the city of Montpelier the sickness
and annoyance from vaccination by rea-
son of the recent smallpox scare in Barre
| had resulted in a greater damage rnan-
cially and otherwise than the disease
had caused in Barre. lie said tina. he
was not antagonistic to vaccination, but
to the compulsory law which the safe
board of health is advocating. DR.. rem-
pleton read many quotations from emf
nent authorities to suDstantiate his
claim that sanitation rather than vac
cination would abate smallpox and c;ted
cases to uphold his contention.
Attorney J. w. Redmond OF Newpors
spoke against the bill and argued that
ii the question of whether or not vac
cination was preventive for smallpox
was debatable, then the state has no
right to enact compulsory law. He
said that there are many people in the
state who are against vaccination on re-
ligious principles and that it would be
intolerance for the state to insist that
their people and their children submit
to vaccination at the mandate of the
state board OF health. He argued that
the proponents of the bill must convince
the committee that the question was
not debatable If the committee is to re-
port the bill fayorably. In closing his |
remarks Mr.. Redmond said; Il want to !
make dent into you on that question" /
He was loudly applauded.
Rev. John w. Barnett of Barre spoke I
in opposition to the bill and claimed
that such law would be unconstitu- !
tional. He argued that such measure
would deprive one of the personal liber-
ties guaranteed under the constitution OF I
the United States.
Attorney Alexander Dunnett of st.
Johnsbury spoke in favor Of the bill and
quoted from the federal law reports to
show that the state has right to enact
a compulsory vaccination law. He criti-
cised the statement made by the Barre
clergyman that the proposed law re-
stricts personal liberty and said that
there is no such thing as absolute lib
cIi9 III tAls NDuUllN anu tHdt All INV
il in restraint of liberty to certain
extent. There is a justification for law
and consequently a restraint of liberty
Il one wishes to so construe law. Reply
ing TO Mr.. Redmond he said that there
IS no law upon the statute books which
s not debatable.
DIR. c. +. Dalton of the state board of
health cited statistics in this country to
show a decline in mortality from small
DoX where vaccination is praeticed and
referred to the stringent supervision ex- {
srcised by the federal government over
he manufacture OF vaccine. As the hour
vas late, he did not attempt to present
many figures in support of his claim, but !
aid that physicians acknowledge that
-aceination is preventive of the dis
ase and he urged that the vaccination '
# infants. as is the law in Germany, 8
would result in lessening the danger in q
ase of epidemic.
Many Barre and Montpelier people !
rere present and practically all of the a
physicians of the legislature and of the !
tiles of Montpelier and Barre listened a
o the arguments for and against tde t
i'll. The committee will hold another 4
ublic hearing on the bill Wednesday n
vening of next week. Il
/.