South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-27
AN HONEST PUBLIC SERVANT is
ONE WHO STAYS BOUGHT-BY
THE PUBLIC.

good man. loyal to his work. al
ways on the job and intelligent
enough TO propose improvements sup
plcmented by the backbone 10 disre-
gard ala bids fer favoritism. is always
. mark for the shafts of the unscrup-
ClOus. and the seeker after special
privilege. Dr. =. y. Hurry. secretary
OF the state board Of health. and boy
virtue Of that ONCE the real esecu-
tive head of the board appears to be
just one of those men. From all over
the state there has poured into the
ears Of the senators and representa-
tivcs down there complaints against
the ultra-activity Of this man. until.
il they gould be believed. he might be
regarded as having usurped every
right with which the individual is
presumed TO be vested
Pushed 10 the wall however. and
basic facts demanded, it seems that
YOU generally find that Or. Hurry is
merely nothing mediocre and without
the hexibility that renders man sub
servient TO individual whims. Some
how he appears 10 have caught onto
the theory that laws are passed just
for the specific purpose of being en-
forced against men who decline or
neglect 20 comply with the provisions
of those laws. The man who under
stands and complies with the rules of
sanitation and health, and gives them
proper and efficient effect seldom has
any trouble with the health depart
ment anywhere. II is the man who
does not understand, and does not
care 10 understand. or who. though
given 10 understand, still persists in
not following that understanding. not
only 10 his own detriment but TO THAT
OF the public as well. that occasionally
has To be "jacked-up" Or. Hurry
has refused TO be jollied, frightened.
or otherwise sidetracked, 10y men of
this lk, and now they are after his
scalp.
So persistent have been these
guardians of personal liberty and
the rights OF man" to menace the
health and well-being of their neigh
bors. in pouring their woes into the
ears Of their senator's and representa-
tives. that it is doubtful if a single
measure introduced in the legislature.
bearing the Endorsement of DIT. Hurry,
viii ever reach tSe governor With
cut discussing the merits of particular
measures. let it suffice to say that the
mere fact that DR.. Hurry favors a bill,
ought not in itself be sufficient evil
dence Of demerit TO kill it, Yet it is
known that men, on both sides of the
house. voted against the housing law
amendments the eugenics law. the
county health commission bill ct
cetera. for the admitted reason that
Hurty was for them. Senators are
known TO have been inclined against
these measures for much the same
reason Very evidently DR.. Hurry is
coming TO be Indiana's Or. Wiley.
We foot our horns about wanted erfi-
cheney and service and then proceed.
as fast as We are affected, to put the
man out OF business who has the quail
idcations 10 give us efficient service.
We think we understand Dr. Hurry
has brains. He also has intelligence.
When he accepted a public position
ne Tell TO regarding his duty as due TO
the whole public rather than 10 par
ucuIar cliques or individuals. ny serv-
ing whom he would not be serving the
public. He has never regarded his
office as a bluff nor permitted il to
be bIuned He appears not To have
been imbued with that seeming
Hoosier spirit that regards all laws
10 be of very special rather than Of
eeneral application. He seems TO
have thought that when the colonial
blue back ground behind eoiled ser
pent. with the words. don't tread on
me-" was discarded tor the stars and
stripes. and equality in preference 30
privilege as launched as the national
emblem, a spirit was born that was
applicable to Eadiana. but he may
have been mistaken in spite OF his
brains and intelligence.
n SO. however. the fault is not his.
but the fault of Hoosierdom D.; 5
rot always wise Co listen exclusively to
the big noise" without stopping TO
enalyze t. and il might be suggested
to the senators and representatives at
Indianapolis that before they go any
farther i'm slashing appropriations for
the health department. il would be as
we'll for them 90 batten taeir ears and
give a little devotion 40 thought.
Cleanliness. which seems TO be the
cause Of most complaint. is next 10
Goodness. somebody said Indiana
doesn't expect its legislature 10 do
much 90 promote Goodness, and IL il
viii just come the next thing TO il. by
promoting cleanliness. that viii be
enough.