The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-08-01
FACTS FAIL TO BEAR
OUT CHARGES OF
immortality

|
ton given him by former Superintend-
ent of Schools Brooks and promi-
nent physician of the city, Rev. D. B.
Titus of the Christian church Monday
evening faced the largest audience
ever gathered in attendance upon
school board meeting and endeavored
to satisfy his hearers of the truth of
his charges of gross immortality
among the school children of the city.
Certain papers had given the SEN
sational charges of the reverend gen
tleman wide publicity with the result
that public hearing was necessary.
The office of the school board proving
utterly inadequate to accommodate
the crowd that early f1ocked to the
meeting, the board adjourned to the
rooms of the Commercial club. A
number of women were present and
before the business proceeded all
youths were invited to absent them
selves.
Supt. Baker was called upon by
Chairman Meek to state the purpose
OF the meeting, and explained that
Rev. Mr.. Titus had made sweeping
charges Of immortality against the
school children of the city in a man.
ner which made necessary an immedi-
ate investigation by the school board.
Attorney R b. Scatterday was
selected to represent the board in
questioning MI. Titus.
Mr.. Titus admitted that the pub
lished notes of the sermon in question
were practically correct"
~. After giving the remarks of the
leading physician of the city" whose
name Mr.. Titus refused to divulge,
he said that former Supt. Brooks had
given him much information which
seemed to corroborate the phycian's
testimony. Mr.. Books, Mr.. Titus
continued. had Thought there were
great many children breaking into
the school buildings at night. He
had seen many around the buildings
late at night. He had recognized
many way after midnight far out in
the edge of the city"
Mr.. Scatterday asked Mr.. Titus
when this information came into his
"In December" answered that gen.
| tleman.
Have you ever taken up the mat
ter with the school board that they
might endeavor to improve condi-
Moves, have; with two men,
bers of the board. spoke with them
for the purpose Of getting more def
mite information"
Mr.. Lyon, cashier of the First Ma
tional bank and member of the
school board, declared that no man
had right to make statements of as
broad and serious a nature as had
Mr., Titus and then refuse to back
them up with more than hear-say tes-
timony.
A generous round of applause
greeted Mr.. Lyons remarks, and Mr..
Scatterday then asked Rev. Mr.. tt
tus, I'VE are then to understand that
your statistics and the name and
knowledge of the alleged assignation
organization are based entirely on
information given by physician
whose name you will not give us?"
| Eyes; and upon information gained
from Mr.. Brooks, with whom the
| physician had also talked"
Three physicians of the city, among
the best known in their profession.
were called upon to give expression
of their opinion as to the probability
of truth in the charges. DR.. ]. w.
Cue said he could only speak for
himself; his experience had taught
him to place little credence in reports
of such a general nature. He had no
regard for them. "Nor have l any
regard" continued DR.. Cue. "for any
man that will make such a statement
and then not back it up! Never since
l have been in Caldwell have had
a single case of venereal disease
among the school children of Cald.
we'll"
DR.. Johnson said that while he did
not claim to be the leading physician
of Caldwell. he had been practicing
here for quite = while and had yet to
accuse one school child of venereal
disease or a single act of impurity.
DR.. F, M. Cole declared since prac-
ticing in the city he had never been
called upon to attend a single case
of venereal disease in a child Of school
age. DR.. Cole said he had understood
stefan as saying that the password
an article of safety-all knowing it,
infected. He then asked Mr.. Titus
uS uoO uuOSIStOOu MN 10 STATE
that certain authority claimed that &c
per cent of the men of the country
were infected with veneral disease.
"Yes, sir" replied Mr.. Titus.
"And the disease is increasing rap.
idly-SO per cent annually, believe
: you said?"
: Those are the figures" replied Mr.
4 Titus.
Then what in the world are we &c
do next year with 100 per cent in
: fected?" inquired the doctor.
= Mr.. Titus had inadvertently giver
the county truant officer backhand
J. ed slap and Mr.. Driscoll said tha'
! Canyon county led all the counties
:. of the state in point OF attendance
He declared that in his seven years
:. experience as probation officer he hat
d met only three cases of venereal dis
s ease among children of school age
Continued on last page.)