The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-02
PUBLIC OPINION IS SET
From Every Hand Come Insistent De-
mands That Ban on Assemblies
Be Not Raised Until
Entirely Safe.

here in the beginning, was the unani-
nous opinion of many elements OF
public opinion in Keokuk brought out
at the conference at the city hall this
morning.
The board OF health passed new
order that not more than fifteen per-
sons shall be allowed in any one
store at any one time. It expects
the cooperation of the merchants in
enforcing this new rule designed to
prevent congregations OF people any
| where.
The doctors were unanimously and
emphatically against lifting the ban
now.
The merchants are opposed to lift
ing the ban now, or as long as influ-
6nza RACES in the surrounding country
and neighboring towns.
The ministers would like to have
church, b ase wliilne to riaxe sHacTit-
fees for the common good of the peo
pie.
Telephone appeals protesting against
any idea of raising the ban now are
| frequent
strictest ktru -, - cement.
The ban on assemblies will not be
raised at present, and when it will
be is guessing-this morning there
was not even date fixed for the next
conference with the doctors and 9th
or advisers Of the city board of health.
The atmosphere was surcharged
with the opinion that the ban order
OF the board of health should be en-
forced with absolute strictness, and
I any violations should be prosecuted
4 regardless Of who the offenders are.
This grew out OF some suspicion that
some people were acting as though
preparing to slip something over on
the board Of health.
II anything of that kind Is attempt
ed, public opinion here will hit 1t hard
er than any court can do, 1t was very
evident this morning from all the
talk all over town.
IL Remarkably Unanimous.
At the meeting this morning, Mayor
Lotion reported twenty or thirty tele-
phone protests from citizens against
raising the ban.
He stated that he had question
naire made OF Keokuk merchants by
James M. Fulton, manager Of the In
dustrial association, and the result
was that every merchant seems OPP
posed to removing the ban.
G. r. Mcfarland, chairman of the
Keokuk Red Cross stated that the ma
tional Red Cross considers the cpl
demic in the middle west still grave
and needing watching closely.
A minister present said he is will
ing to do whatever the opinion OF
physicians makes incumbent to save
sickness in town.
Several reports indicated that pub
lie opinion in Keokuk has most re-
markable unanimity against lifting
the ban OF assemblies now.
Saving Lives and the Merchants. ,
"It would be the worst thing on
earth to open now" said Dr.. Court
right. "for we are now at the most
serious stage of the thing, and our
prevention is working out WELL
Each of the ten leading physicians
present echoed this opinion. DR.. VOL
| lenweber said that If the ban is re-
moved now, sixty per cent Of Keo-
kuk people, who have escaped and
are not immune as are the population
OF other cities having an epidemic
WILL take influenza soon.
DR., Holmes said removing the ban
In other cities had been followed by
an increase in cases.
"Td rather close my store for a
month than to have one keokuk per
son die who might have lived other
wise" leading retail MERCHANT told
the mayor.
The Churches and Fellow Men.
Rev. Dr.. Ezra Butler Newcomb. OF
Westminster Presbyterian church
happened into the city hall to see
what was happening and was asked
for an expression Of his own feelings.
He said:
~ believe the public is not in so
much danger from church services as
from crowding into stores, and
would be an advantage to us to be
able TO have a short service on Sun
day But we are willing to do what
ever the physicians think best for all
the people of Keokuk.
"T would expect the ministers and
churches to be the first to join In any
movement to save people from harm
remarked Dr.. 0. T. Clark.
A Representative Meeting.
| The conference was participated
:, nv the city board of health, the
physicians of Keokuk, the Red Cross
chapter. and the Visiting Nurse asso-
citation. Some doctors not present
sent proxies to make sure of voicing
their objections to removing the ban.
Mayor Lotion said:
"The board OF health appreciates
the hearty cooperation of the 1eysf-
clans of the city, the Red Cross, the
Visiting Nurse association and all
others who have assisted the board /
TO stamp out the epidemic in the city
1--we assure you that such timely as