The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-03-10


Health yesterday bill filed with his
own petition which would permit
school children who have not been
vaccinated to attend the public
schools, except during a threatened
or actual outbreak.
A bill similar to this received a
favorable report from the committee
and passed the Senate in 1914. The
next year leave was given to with
draw Last year the bill was defeat
ed in the House on a third reading,
by II votes, according to Representa-
tive Bagshaw
Representative Bagshaw stated that
the bill was not an characterization
measure, but was intended to give to
the public schools the same freedom
that private and parochial schools en-
joy. He called attention to the fact
that since 1908 after the repeal of the
infant vaccination law. there had been
no epidemic of any seriousness. THE
present law Is class legislation" he
said. "The only persons beside school
children now under the compulsory
vaccination law are soldiers and sail
ors."
Those who appeared in favor Of
the bill were: DR.. Charles S. Page,
ll20 fremont Street, Boston; DIR. f..
NJ. Padelford, Fall River; DR.. r. l..
! True, Boston, DIR. Samuel A. Kimball,
Boston; Mrs. ]. L. C. Henderson, sec
cination Society; Mrs. J. d. Knight,
secretary Of the Pittsfield Mothers
Protective League; Charles F. Ding
man, Palmer: William Basset, Lynn;
William r. Grundrod, secretary of
the Loom Fixers' Union, New Bed
ford; James II. Simpson, secretary of
the Spinners Protective Association,
New Bedford; DR.. Ann Fairchild,
| Boston.
DR.. r. S. True. Boston, said that
seven children of his own had been
through the public schools, and none
had been vaccinated. 81 have been
opposed to it for SIS years" ne said.
81 have seen persons suffering from
many diseases, which followed vac
cination."
Mrs. j. D. Knight. secretary Of the
Pittsfield Mothers Protective League,
said that the women in that city
would establish private schools in
Pittsfield, if the measure against
compulsory vaccination did not pass.
She told of the experiences of PIT
mothers in the city and their invcsti-
eve found children who had con-
tracted infantile paralysis. and other
diseases. after being vaccinated.
There are many doctors who will fav-
or US in our stand against vacclna-
tion, and we are determined to start
a private school If the measure does
not pass"
c. l.. Padelford of FAN River said
that in the Fall River schools children
had been vaccinated without the con-
sent of the parents. He quoted ia
tai case of locl<jaw in Fall River
which he said was the result of vac
cination. "If necessary, 1 will move
out of the state" he said. 81 have
seven children of my own and will
never allow them to be vaccinated."
Mr.. Dingman brought petition he
had circulated in Palmer, and which
contained the names of many citizens
Mr.. Basset went into the history OF
vaccination. with our other rights,
he said, "a person should not b'
obliged to submit to vaccination with
out having first a trial by jury"
DR.. Ann Fairchild of Boston mad,
a brief but firm plea. IL want to b,
, registered as against the measure o
. compulsory vaccination. II seems t.
: me to be almost unconstitutional"
v Mrs. ]. L. C. Henderson, secretar,
:, Of the Non-Compulsory Vaccination
u Society, then presented a letter fron
DR.. George C. Beebe of Pittsfield. Tn
letter stated that during the recen
period there were between SO and 10
families lost children or saw then
made blind, crippled. or manned. sh
read testimony from families in whic
\ there had been suffering from vacci
b nation.
- She then told of the testimony sh
had received from prominent physi
clans. chief among them DR.. Alfre
F. Christian of Marlboro Street, Bos
ton. He stated to her. she said, tina
' II cases of infantile paralysis ha
followed vaccination. She read lei