El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-02
CHANGING HEALTH PLACARDS To-
PRODUCE BETTER FEELING HERE

THE announcement OF Lieut. lanes E Lavery that the
plscs-ds required to be placed the windows Of
tain e Paso establishments not properly vorded and
that they would be modified marks concession ts very
pronounced and quite general sentiment here IN FL Paso
this city being made the object Of dseIimina-
ton unfair insulting, and that it insult
i1g whether Intentionally
Too much emphasis has been placed social diseases
this health certificate campaign and the result has been
that impression has been created FL Paso restau-
rants cafes and soda fountains have been dangerous har
boring places for those diseases.
Moreover, the requirement that all and girl
employees, well all men, submit themselves to exam
nation 10 determine whether not they infected
insulting by implication and most humiating. Little
wonder that self respecting women employees preferred to
lose their positions rather than go through the ordeal For
70 consent 10 examination meant practically tact
agreement that it advisable and usiabe while to
refuse to submit to might be considered by con-
feon Of infection and desire to keep It secret by avoid
ing examination.
Little wonder that tie requirement the indg
nation also Of employers of women, employers who were
not IN the habit Of taking into their service the riff raft
the streets and who had intention of standing BY and
allowing their employees to be subjected to humiliation
which applied to themselves personally, they would
have considered deeply insulting.
The indignation which other employers would
have felt tempered by patriotic desire to cooperate
with the military authorities II all matters pertaining to
the welfare Of the soldiers whether the requirements
Just unjust and they submitted accordingly Employers
Who held out however, in refusing TO yield to demand
which they considered degrading by implication received
the support OF Of the strongest and most upright
elements Of the city's citizenship
wifulIy IN opposition to military wishes They per
fsc jealous 70 safeguard the physical and moral welfare
of both soldiers and civilians, but they objected to the
COARSE, insiuuating and very public employed.
II happens that the state of Texas requires the regis
Tstou BY doctors and pharmacists Of every person seek
ing treatment for the disease which the army has been
seeking 10 combat These lists forwarded at intervals
to Austin, where they form permanent record, available,
naturally, 20 military authorities request It is taken
for granted that every person infected would have to seek
treatment and that BY Of the states list anyone
interested might quickly ascertain If infected persons
being employed IN restaurants and other places where food
aud drink Is served If called to their attention,
employers would be quick enough TO get rid of diseased
persons recognizing the menace to health OF others
and TO their own business.
Or If It not desired TO make Of the states in
formation It would be possible ask for general physical
examinations without laying stress publicly on the social
disease feature These then, could have been conducted
without humiliation; without directing suspicion at good
girls as veil bad girls and decent well the
working girls as prostitutes Compelling the latter to
Undergo frequent examinations for disease is matter Of
common practice wherever commerszed vice IS tolerated
By Izv-which 1t is not in e Paso.
There seemed element Of discrimination IN it. for
Only those engaged in handling food and drinks were
obliged undergo this humiliation though It is generally
admitted that the disease nay be transmitted through the
handling Of other commodities Additional discrimination
appeared exist in the fact that IN other Texas cities
where troops stationed such drastic requirements
were made
Il is unfortunate that this embarrassing and dstastefu
natter has up for It has put many good people in
e Psso in the position Of opposing official request aim
ing the welfare Of the soldie-and all 81 Pasoans want