The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-06-25
Judgement VS.. Prejudice.

Young men for war-old men for
counsels.
Why? Because experience and
years bring wisdom, calmness of
judgment-or they should, and if they
come not with age they come not at
Ial
Florida's State Board of Health is
the growth of years. 1t has been use
/ full as a stakeholder because its ex-
ecutives have had the benefit of the
calm judgment that brought it into
existence and that has guided its de-
Ivelopment.
No one who has watched it's accom-
Iplishments through more than TWEEN.
ty-fve years, can honestly question
the large part it has had in making
Florida a better place to live in. it
has advertised to TIE world, particu
larly through The medium of the mcoi-
cal profession, the overcoming Cf
certain disadvantages that existed
formerly by the menacing of tropical
diseases from the peculiar geographi-
cal relation of the state to the West
Indies and to other infected lands. 1t
has applied the latest developments in
medical science to the advantage of
Florida.
And this work has been made pos
sible because men of foresight and
calm judgment appreciated the neces-
sity of such an agency for the pro-
lection of the states greatest asset
its health. 1t was the wisdom of
such men that worked out the plan
of financial support in establishing
a small tax upon all the assessible
property of the state. 1t has been
the counsel of such men that has
maintained the Board in its work
through the years and has established
on a firm footing a health board,
which medical men elsewhere, who APP
preciate the value of the work, have
declared has not its equal for practi-
cal efficiency in all the South.
1t has been the work not of one man,
nor of any set of men, but of different
men who, as the years have gone have
left the impress of their wisdom to
make it more efficient.
To the digested experience of calm
Judgment, which can give their true
and relative value to events, is due the
development of ideas into institutions
of large public utility. Prejudice is
an enemy of progress, and at times
in the history of Florida's Health
Board, its progress has been ham
pered by unreasoning prejudices, and
too often there have been due to ig-
norance, or a failure or unwillingness
to know or to comprehend the prob
lem from every view point.
The Board has its powers by the au-
thority of the State Legislatures
since 1889. This body with its chang
ing membership has been response
bic for the organization of the Board
and for the increasing powers granted
it. The various governors of the
state have named the members of the
Board and calm Judgment has guided
the selection. These various Boards
have followed a policy of advance
which has changed only in minor de-
tails as the years have vanished.
The Legislature that has just pass
ed into history, has exercised its au-
thority wisely in its addition to the
equipment Of the Board. A broader
field of action has been opened and
the possible usefulness of this agency
has been widely extended 1t has
been brought into closer contact with
the people of the state, who support
its work.
The calm judgment of Florida's leg
iSlative representatives has prevailed
over prejudices and misapprehension
of the work and mission of the Board.
The result will be a better, a more
healthful Florida.-Bulletin, State
Board of Health.