The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-24

diplomatic representatives outrivaling the
raiment OF the women for brilliance, the
fifteenth International Congress on Hy-
giene and Demography was formally con-
vened by President Henry Pr walcott. OF
the Massachusetts, Board of Health.
DR.. Walcotts address of welcome was
about half finished when the President
was announced and welcomed with ap-
plause from members and delegates
standing in their places until the Chief
Executive was seated. DR.. Walcott in
terrupted his address to introduce the
President.
President Taft in his address of well
come show ed a vital interest in and SYM
pathy with the purpose of the congress.
The Presidents address, in which he
warmed 10 his subject to degree I'M
usual with him, was punctuated through
out with applause, and at dts conclusion
was greeted with demonstration by his
$500 auditors which lasted for several
minutes, The President dwelt at length
upon the hygienic educational work
which has resulted from American occu-
patton in the Philippines. Porto Rico, and
Cuba, and said. In effect. that the re-
suits accomplished along these lines
would alone Justify the expense in lives
suffering. and money of the Spanish
American war.
Speaking of the part public health i'm
provement played in the functions OF
government. President Taft said in part:
People Must Understand.
There is no difficulty about running a
government cheaply IL you limit its func-
tons to the mere matter of the preser-
walton of peace and the administration
of Justice but IL you propose TO add to
these adequate systems Of education
government hygiene, good roads. and
other internal improvements-then you
must look about for sources OF revenue
which are not always forthcoming, and
an absence Of which retards the progress
that every good administration longs for
in the interest OF the people intrusted
to his charge. And then, IL the govern
ment to be established is to be more or
less popular. the people themselves must
be educated to under stand the import
ance of the hygienic restrictions, TO &C
cept them, and themselves to impose
upon themselves the burden of taxation
which 1t is essential for them to carry
N order that any progress shall be made
at ALL
In concluding the President said:
such congresses as these must create
a deeper love of man for man. They sur
I'D a greater human sympathy, and offer
to the scientific student who is willing 10
devote his life to the development VI
the truth that shall add to the health
and comfort and happiness of his fellows
a reward that cannot be measured in
money, but is to be found only in the
consciousness of the highest duty We'll
done"
Keynote of the Congress.
DR.. walcotts address sounded the key
note of the congress-'Educate the peo-
Pile" He sketched in general terms the
relation between Federal, State. and mu-
nicipal health organization in this coun-
try. saying that the policy was TO con-
fer as much authority and responsibility
on the local health organizations as pos
sible. in order to facilitate the work OF
educating the people in the work of pre-
venting disease by proper care of them
selves and their institutions.
He paid a glowing compliment to. the
Public Health and Marine Hospital Serv-
ice, which, he said. was necessarily
hampered by its subordination to the
Treasury Department. He Endorsed I'M
equivocally the owen bill for depart
ment of health, saying that it was OPP
posed only by those who were ignorant
of the public health situation and by
selfish interests whose welfare would be
injured by IL to whatever degree the
public health would be benefited.
Following DR.. Walcotts address. Prof.
Max Rubner president OF the permanent
commission on hygiene and demography
congresses, addressed the delegates,
briefing his speech because of the late