The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-11-21
INVESTIGATION At v. s. c.
AWAKENS MUCH INTEREST

PULLMAN, Wash, Nov 20.-Roger
S. Sanborn of Spokane today detailed to
the board of regents of Washington
State college and Governor Ernest Lister
the circumstances regarding the death of
his son, member of the student army
training corps, during the recent cpl
denlic of Spanish influenza. He came
at the request of the governor, who is
published charges that neglect and dere-
LECTION of duty by those in charge were
responsible for the death of his boy.
The board is in regular session and
has heard score of other witnesses
and persons connected with the hand
ling of the epidemic situation, and will
continue its hearing tomorrow. The
purpose of the investigation is that a
complete statement may be made of the
full extent of the dilemma here, its
causes, why it spread, its extent, the
measures adopted to combat it and criti
cism or prosecution, if it is determined
that any is desired by those in authority.
Sanborn Repeats Charges.
Mr.. Sanborn repeated the experiences
he encountered in the attempt to visit his
son, that he believed the authorities were
gambling with the lives of the young
people, both boys and girls and that the |
especially the transfer of
sick boys from one place to another was |
detrimental in the treatment of their |
sses.
Mr.. Sanborn took the viewpoint that |
he was not appearing as witness at an
that if negligence existed
the board of regents was equally cul-
pable with the military and school au-
thorities and that he favored a thorough |
probe of the entire matter, if it was to
be taken up at all.
With Mr.. Sanborn's statement as a
basis, the board of regents is asking
statements of more than SO physicians,
,lergymen, nurses, hospital heads and
has invited any person who believes he
Or she is able to add any light in regard
% the situation, to appear.
Will Publish Findings.
The board is meeting behind closed
1oors with the intention of making its
findings public later. Physicians were
present from nearby towns today. These
we're men who had been called in during
he height of the epidemic and they told
If the emergency and what measures
we're taken. Their testimony taken sep
rate1y tends to confirm that of the au
horities who decided to place sick men
n the churches. These buildings, they
ay, were of recent construction, we're
Tel1 heated, airy and made it possible
or one nurse to attend to several suf-
erers. Placing the men in the large
uditoriums has resulted in much COM :
laint.
Despite this pitifu1 situation the physi- !
ians maintain that it was the best thing :
0 be done, as there were insufficient t
urses for those suffering and as every t
ity in this region was also in the throes E
f the epidemic, more were not procur- $
Bile. In this connection, it was stated t
lat E. T. Conan, president of the board,
lade a thorough canvass of Spokane f
ally in attempts to secure additional i,s
id. This, in answer to Mr. Sanborn's S
barge that Mr.. Conan paid no attention G
} the difficulties being encountered t
ere n
New Arrivals Spread Epidemic. n
1t was brought out that the epidemic r
ad made slight headway here up to n
october 15 on which date 800 new mem
ars of the S. A. T. C. arrived from II
oints all over the state In addition $50 !!
her S. A. T. c. men, who were to Il
ave been transferred, were held unex- II
,ctedly to the college and military au- 4
orities. Within few days after the 2
rival of these men the epidemic was =
ging. Ten days thereafter it reached :
crest, with nearly 400 cases. e;
Every available facility, so far as the :
tizens here are able to determine, was
ought into play. Men and women left
cir homes and worked night and day,
e witnesses told the regents, in their at
forts to alleviate the suffering. A V
rong guard was placed about the nj
mpus and the temporary hospitals, as m
scipline must be maintained. The in
ysica1 work of caring for so many was si
ormous. They must be fed and given Il
LCnntinued on ma oe 81 th