South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-04
EARLY RESIGNED
To FATE WANTS
III NATIONAL HOME
Leper SAYS He Travelled Among
the Rich to Impress Them
With Fact That Sufferers of
Disease Are Not Criminals.

WASHINGTON. June 4. John
Early the 1eper placed under restraint
Tuesday by the district authorities
when he revealed his identity at the
fashionable Shoreham hotel after
two days residence there. told the
story Wednesday OF how he moved
freely about In the best hotels and
restaurants OF the country, rode in
company with former Governor Gen
g al Grey and his family Of Canada OF
a Canadian Pacific train from Van
eouver 10 Montreal and rode upon
Shoreham elevator rubbing elbows
with Vice President Marshall on Mon
day.
Il know I am a Ieper now" he said
half wistfully ct am resigned to my
own fate. My wife and children have
left me. 1 am alone in the world. My
doom does not terrify me. But 1 want
my case TO serve as a great national
example and bring about the proper
treatment OF unfortunates afflicted as
] am.
i appeal 10 congress to establish a
national home Tor lepeTs where the!
may receive proper care and not be
shunted about and driven from place
10 place as ! have been They arc
unhappy, treated thus. and "A great
danger TO the community. Ny poor
Ptoplt-l REFER TO the leDer class OF
which I am One-are unable to care
for themselves. They are unclean in
every sense OF the word They are a
menace to every well person. / believe
there are 80 or 40 lepers walking the
streets OF New York today
Planned His Trip.
ITO demonstrate how easy IL is for
leper 10 mingle in cities. / planned
my present trip six months ago
knew that it is only when a great truth
is sent home to the hearts of the peo-
pie that attention is paid 10 it.
knew that If l mingled among the well
to do and the rich and exposed them
20 contagion that they would arise out
OF self protection and further my plan
OF national home.
THAT is why l chose the Pullman
cars, why / slept at the best hotels
ate in the best restaurants. No one
cares what happens TO the poor
The John Early that was, is dead
10 the world. | have put the world
behind me. From now on 1 am will
ing TO be isolated, to have the warning
bell Of the unclean rung as / approach
10 feel that men shrink from me with
the world old fear of the terrible dis
ease that has been laid upon me. but
! want my appeal to be heard.
81 shall be happy If this dream of a
national leprOsarium is realized.
will then feel that even l, John Early
the leper, was able TO serve his fell
low men in this humble fashion, that
have aided the 500 or more Ameri-
can lepers and that never again can a
leper be treated as l have been.
Paid Double Price.
ct contracted this disease in the SER
vice OF Uncle sam in the Philippines.
This is the price We pay for bearing
the white mans burden in tropical
lands and we should not make the
poor victims pay a double price"
Speaking Of his travels, Mr.. Early
said
''I left the Port Townsend station on
May Il and boarded a boat for Vic
toria. 1 mingled freely with the pas
sengers. At Port Angles 1 bought a
new outfit. In Victoria / bought a
first class ticket over the Canadian Pa
cific TO New York. Several days
was in Toronto and Montreal. While
en- route 20 Montreal l travelled in
company with a Mr.. Grey. former
gOvernOr-general OF Canada, and his
family and they were very kind TO
me, not dreaming. Of course, who l
was.
ION Nav % I arrived in New York.
During my visit there L ate at Delmon-
ico's. inspected the WaldOrf-Astori
and other we'll known hotels and res
taurants. went 10 several OF the lead
ing theaters and had a fine time see
Ing the sights. Last saturday took
in the ball game between the Giants
and Philadelphia teams.
Looked Around a Bit
when I arrived in Washington
took n taXiCab and registered at the
Shoreham as r. J. Weston of New
York | knew the Washington health
authorities were expecting me to re-
turn TO the capital but I thought
would look about a bit before notify
ing them wanted 10 be arrested and
detained.
1T was all part OF my plan 10 at
tract attention 10 my case and get
the national idea started. While at
the hotel I rode up in the elevator on
Monday, touching elbows with a man
pointed out 20 me as Vice President