Middletown transcript., 1918-10-19
CHURCH and STATE
Some Of Our People Are Calling
Il "Carfluenza''
COMES FROM SPAIN CIR CUBA

4ue Oc0Iu VI 0ISuOp SuoAACo a. ASi
Currier, of the Cuban diocese, is 8
particularly distinct loss to the country
at this time because of the plans which
we entertain for a closer intimacy with
the Latin American republics. Bishop
Currier was one of our best interpreters
of the Latin American mind. His
familiarity with the Spanish literature
of the Western Hemisphere was remark
able and his portrayal of life and con
ditions from the Rio Grande to southern
most Argentina was an education to any
audience. In the course of q lifetime
all too brief his earnest cooperation
with such men as John Hay, President
Taft, Elihu Root, and John Barrett,
helped much to smooth out difficulties
with some of our neighhoring republics.
and to promote better understanding,
an entente cordiale, between Uncle
Sam and those hot-headed, though
warm-hearted people. When. at the
instance Of that very able journalist,
the late William Eleroy Curtis, Secre-
tary of State, James G. Blaine founded
the Bureau of American Republics,
(now the Pan-American Union conduct
ed by Hon. John Barrett) Bishop Cur
rier offered many suggestions of value
in determining the friendly Offices
which that bureau sought to effect, and
he was prominently identified with the
bureau up to the day of his death.
Bishop Currier was a great credit to
the church and to the State.
SOME CALL 1T ''GARFLUENzA"
In specializing as to the origin of the
influenza. :" many people advance the
theory that it came from Spain, OF
China. There is apparently no evidence
that it came from either. But if it did,
the probability is that its ravages have
beep very greatly increased by the un-
healthful co dness and dampness of
offices, residences and apartments
where there should be fires and none
have been started. The Fuel Admins
tration has denied that it placed any
ban on the early starting of heating
plants, but the fact is. nevertheless,
that the daily bulletins telling about the
seriousness of the fuel scarcity and
urging the conservation of coal has
been made the foundation for refusal of
owners of office buildings and apart
ments to start fires when the season de-
manded it. The germ Of the influenza
may have come from Spain. though that
may be doubted. There is no room for
doubt that 1t found ready breeding
place in cold, damp rooms which should
have been dry and warm.
ARGENTINA's s EXAMPLE
Argentina, according to a cablegram
from Buenos Aires, is considering an
increase in her tariff on imports equiva-
lent 10 20 per cent in addition to 80
per cent. increase in port dues. This
proposal is included in the 1919 budget
submitted by the President of Argen-
tina. The Democrats now in control
refuse consideration of any increase in
customs duties, and also refuse to pro-
vide for budget system. They prefer
to take all taxes from domestic produc-
ton and industry, and to spend money
with wantOn extravagance. Our Secre-
tary of the Treasury presents book Of
estimates of funds to Congress. with
no attempt to check up the demands of
greedy bureaucrats. and this book of
estimates is supplemented by additional
requests to swell these enormous sums.
The Republicans are generally in favor
of adopting the budget system; the
Democrats are against it, preferring to
divide their loot through the chairmen
of committees who hail from the South,
and who see to it that ''the South gets
hers" Argentina has something to
offer US in the way of example. in tariff
as we'll as in the budget system.