The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-24

human lives, the lives Of hundreds of
poor little innocent, helpless children
who can not speak for or help them
selves. There without one business
man except Mr.. S. O'Quinn, and we
were kept waiting so long on the out
side before the ladies and gentlemen
were given hearing that Mr..
! O'Quinn had to leave to go to his
place Of business before we were asked
to go in and s.a.te our business.
What I want to stress is this: l
feel quite sure now that il we had
had one representative Of the Sum-
ter county medical association of
Sumter county to say that the Sumter
county physicians approved of the
county health survey, as they did by
resolution months before, if we had
just one leading business man there
| to say what the business men think
OF saving hundreds of human lives,
perhaps the humane and patriotic
women of the Sumter Civic League
who were there and gave one ana
a-half hours of their time to ask for
help to save human lives and health,
perhaps the commissioners might have
been more impressed with the value
Of DIR. Haynes magnificent offer.
1t might not be too late yet to Sc
cure that four thousand dollars if
Sumter county could just muster up
one local physician sufficiently inter-
ested In the public health to call
melting of Sumter county mon and
women to demand reconsideration of
the rejection of this splendid offer
for a twelve months campaign of
education.
One little three-teacher school
costs two thousands dollars a year.
The two thousand the Rockefeller
Foundation and the State board Of
health asked for to supplement their
four. thousand dollars would have ed
ucated every boy and girl in Sumter
county's rural schools about the
most important phase of human en-
istence. how to protect their hoalth
and the public health. This two
thousand dollars would have caused !
many thousands OF men and women
to learn who have never and will
never have the opportunity to learn
how to save human life and prevent
much needless suffering.
As you we'll stated In your editorial,
the commissioners were willing to en-
dorse spending millions for good
roads. Good roads help their horses
and mules, protect their limbs and
prolong their lives. We will vote for
good roads. permanent highways, the
kind Mayor Jennings resolution
adopted by the Sumter Chamber of
Commerce called for. Not dirt roads
that last three years.
But good health Is what every boy
and girl is entitled to and the right
to know how to preserve their health
and prolong their lives. tits as much
the duty Of Sumter county to pro-
tect the lives and health of it's citi-
Gems by educating the ignorant how
to do so as it is the duty Of the COM
missioners to take care of the poor,
drain the highways. and police the
county to protect property and main
tain order.
But I write too much, this I know.
But this Is my last word in the news
papers. just wanted among other
things. as the leader for an almost
dead movement. to tell you that your
editorials were we'll worth the tine
you used In writing them. That thou
sands Of men and women appreciate
the stand you took, and the manly
way you expressed yourself on an i'm
portant public issue. An editor doubt
less appreciates being appreciated aa
much as any one else. will not
wait until you are dead to tell you
what people think Of you. In con-
clusion. and with one forlone hope
with that characteristic "never say
die" Sumter spirit. wish to add that
1t would be we'll worth just one more
trial. we'll worth just one, if not
more local physicians time. to phone
DIR. Hayne and ask If there is still
fighting chance to get that four thou
sand dollars. II there Is we ought
to hold q public meeting to express
public sentiment as I know the sen
| timent is in favor of twelve months
J campaign OF education for the beg
carly little sum Of two thousand dol
lars. and demand reconsideration.
The people have rights they ought to
maintain. The people ought to rule
Il Il