The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-19
WIDE-OPfN TOWNS
. HAVE LESS DISEASE

A persistent rumor obtains in Win
nemucca that the county commission
ers, or the city council, or somebody,
is going to have a meeting and "do
something" regarding the Situation"
of the health of the populace. Also,
a popular demand seems to prevail
that something be done. Authorities"
all over the land have been doing
things" to--not for-the people they
are supposed to serve, for the past
three months. The things done have
been grotesque to degree which puts
the Indian medicine man, with his
snake dance, to blush. He isn't in it,
Schools, churches. theatres, and
sometimes business offices have been
closed as health measures" Many
communities have had gauze mask
laws thrust into their noses and
mouths. A letter from Tonopah ex-
presses the indignation of one resi-
dent of that camp. He says, Even
the dogs have the laugh on us now!"
veritable reign of terror has been
created in the name of medical sci
ence"-and the results are undeniably
bad Village and county and state
health officers, in an efforts to justify
their right to be called authorities,
have pretended to doctor and protect
against something which their scien-
tifc superiors declare they know alb
solutely nothing about.
In preceding column in The Silver
State today is a proclamation by the
Acting Governor of Nevada. The
words which give that proclamation
authority are worthy of attention
particular attention at this time. The
proclamation says the great seal of
the State has been affixed to it, and
that it was done "in the year of our
Lord"
The date is an absolutely essential
part of all legal documents, and all so
called civilized countries date their
time from the first appearing of con-
certe Truth to mankind-the year of
our Lord Herein is a suggestion of
how local officers might do some
thing" for the benefit of the commu-
nifty. They might annul the fearful
laws they have enacted to close up
expressions of good-the schools, the
churches, the theatre, while thinking
nothing of the saloon and the money
mart which remains open.
They could do that much tonight.
And in doing it they would be follow
ing the example of cities and commu-
mites which have escaped and are
now escaping from the epidemic. Why
follow the absurd and unscientific
examples of panic-stricken peoples,
especially after they have been proved
of no value? Why not follow exam
pies which have achieved good re-
SullS u6 ldCIo are uhuSHldUiC- hC
wide-open towns have the least "flu"
because they have the least fear.
Let's do mething-sensible.
Have our soldiers been taught dur
ing the past two years to run and
hide and go into panic because danger
is about them? In any condition of
life where danger exists-whether a
man is trying to shoot you, or you
seem likely to lose your fortune, or,
worse, someone dear to you-can fear
be of particle of profit? The an
swer is No Fear takes away what
ever strength you have, or ought to
have Let's open up!
A four-day convention OF public
health officials of the United States
and Canada concluded it's ssiNns in
Chicago a week ago today. The or
ganization is known as the Am erican
Public Health Association. This as
sociation voted against the advisable
ity of closing either public or rural
schools. The chairman, DR.. w. H. Hill
of Minneapolis. president of the Min
nesota State public health department,
said: