New-York tribune., 1912-02-04
OWEN PLEADS FOR BILL
Senator Gains Support for His
National Health Measure.
TALKS AT REPUBLICAN CLUB
Medical Men Lend Support to
Plan, Which Is Indorsed
by Resolution.

Senator Robert l.. Owen, OF Oklahoma.
addressed two hundred members of the Re
publican Club OF New York at the club
Saturday discussion and luncheon yester-
day on THE Conservation and Preservation
of the National Health" So convinc!ngly
did the Senator present the arguments In
favor OF his bill for the creation OF ma
tional Bureau of Health that it was votcc
that every Senator and the MEM
bers of the House Of Representatives
from New York should be asked to en-
deavor to secure the passage OF the meas
ure. The resolution was introduced 10y *
Senator Towne, of Minnesota, and was
adopted unanimously.
Professor Irving Fisher. Of Yale CniveT-
sity: DR.. Louis l.. Seaman, former surgeon
major Of the United states Volunteers; ~
William NJ. Polk. president of the Academy
OF Medicine of the City OF New York: Dr
j. ID. Bryant, exHealth Commissioner of
New York, and Or. Gardiner T. Swarts
secretary of the State Board Of Health Of
Rhode Island, spoke In favor of the Owen
bill, and letters of support were real from
the health officers of New Jersey, Massa-
chusetts and Pennsylvania
Senator owen startled some Of his med
ical hearers at the beginning OF his talk
by saying that there was no reason why
a man should not live to be 100 years old.
or even $50 but he Immediately qualified
his remark by adding that the rules OF
health would never be followed explicitly,
since every man has his favorite poison.
The death rate I'm the United States Is
1872 to 1000" said Senator owen. I'm New
Zealand. with no better climate, It is 9i2
to l.0oO-a net difference of to the thou
sand. This means an annual loss OF
about six hundred and thirty thousand per
sons in the United States from preventable
causes-a vast procession of seventeen hun
dred persons a day for 365 days in every
year marching to needless graves.
Three million people are seriously sick
In the United States on an average from
preventable causes, OF whom one million
are workers. The death loss has COM
mercial value of 5000 100000 The loss OF
productive power from sickness through
preventable causes and the nursing and
caring for the sick will amount to 5000 900 =
000 more. II this loss were saved and tho
value compounded IL would in one genera
tion equal our entire national wealth"
The speaker went on to discuss the rea-
sons why no bill similar 10 his had been
successful in the past, and said that the
opposition came from certain manufactur-
ers OF patent medicines, drugs and foods
He declared that these interests were bo-
hind the activities Of the League for Med-
cal Freedom.
when am asked the motive underlying
the opposition TO my BILL" said Senator
owen, II am always reminded of little
story about Senator Daniels, OF Virginia.
The Senator was lying on a couch in the
cloak room when Joe Blackburn under
took 10 get a rise out OF him by attacking
tho merits of George Washington. He said
that Washington was fair country sur
veyor and moderately successful general
of militia but that he had built the capital
Of the United States on swamp in order
10 further real estate scheme in which
he and his friends were interested. Final
ly a Senator who stood near interposeG
Are you going TO let Blackburn go on
Ike that about the greatest man your state
ever produced without making any reply
he said
Daniels waved one hand languidIy Let
him rave on he said. You know Black
burn has always been unalterably opposed
TO George Washington since he learned that
he could not tell lie. | think this per-
haps explains some of the unconquera bic
opposition to national Bureau of Health. q"
The Senator went on TO explain that the
bill provided that the national bureau
should not interfere with the state practl-
TONER or in the patients choice of a prac-
utioner lie thought that ample constl.
tutional license for his bill might be found
In the general welfare clause.
In closing he said: We spend millions
protecting the country from the boil weevi!
the gypsy moth and the Canada thistle
Shall we continue to spend money to pro
tect ourselves against the Texas tick ard
spend nothing to provide for the human lr,
Of the natlon?'