Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-11-29
GOVERNOR REFUTES
SANBORN CHARGES
Says That State College Authorities
Are Entitled to Communication
Instead of Criticism

lengthy statement of his conclusions
regarding the manner in which the
influenza epidemic was handled by
the State College. His findings ar
the State College. His findings, ar
ton of the matter, completely dis
credit the charges brought by r. S.
Sanborn of Spokane Following are
extracts from his statement
Il visited all of the buildings on
the campus in which the students
training corps is housed, and from
the investigation made and the infor-
nation procured by me | am CON
vnced that everything possible was
done to properly house all of the
number cared for.
The members Of the students
army training corps contracted the
disease in large numbers. 1t was
necessary to make hospital arrange
ments rapidly to care for them The
armory on the campus was used as
hospital, and certain sections of some
of the other buildings were also oc-
cupied by the sick patients. In addi-
ton to the use of these buildings il
fraternity houses for the same pur-
pose. Three of the local churches
were quickly turned into hospitals
and large number of the young
men cared for in them"
The governor then discusses Mr. |
Sanborn's contention that the girl
students should have been sent home
and Stevens Hall used for a hospital
and finds that such plan would
have been unwise, dangerous and i'm
practicable. He then continues:
Shortly after arriving at the
State College l wired to r. S San
born of Spokane. also DR.. C. S. Kalb
of Spokane, requesting them to come
to Pullman and present any informa-
ton they might have to the board OF
regents and myself Mr. Sanborn,
who is one of the fathers who has
felt the effect OF this epidemic in the
loss of his son. the boy having been
member of the students army
training corps, came to Pullman al
my request I did not hear from DR..
Kalb. Mr.. Sanborn, however, in
formed me that DR.. Kalb was too
busy to come to Pullman.
II requested Mr. Sanborn to pre-
sent any information he might have
or desire to place before us, to the
board of regents and myself. He
stated that he did not desire to place
the matter before the board of re-
gents, but did while there, go over
the situation quite fully. His state
ments covered just about the line
presented by him in his letter which
was published in the Spokesman-Re
view some days ago. After talking
with MIR. Sanborn, we called in a
large number of physicians, sur
geons, nurses, and citizens of Pull
man who had ass sted in the handling
OF the patients afflicted and who
were located in the different hos
pitfalls.
The terms of the contract entered
INTO by the State College with the
army department calls for the hous-
ing and feeding of the students army
training corps. It also calls for the
institution to furnish certain lines
ol instruction. The care of the
I young men is entirely in charge of
and under the direction of the army
department.. II there were any con-
uitlons existing at the institution not
satisfactory to the army officials in
command, under the terms of the
Vohtract entered into, fixed as the
responsibility of the State College.
Is to be presumed that officer
would have promptly presented to
me college authorities request for
compliance with the terms of the
0ontract 1t is equally true that no
such epidemic as did occur at this in
sNution would have been thought OF
Nhen tie contract was entered into,
Is equally true that 1t was the duty
both the army and the college au-
'horities regardless of terms of the
Untract, to do everything possible TO
4ahdle the situation when 1t did ar
I'VE When considered from the
standpoint of an epidemic developing
apidly and calling for extraordinary
iorts being put forth IL its ham
wing feel that those having to do
lCOntlnnad on last naRal