The Washington times., 1919-01-27
!" "Awheel With DEATH" and the
Way to Safeguard the Trip

struction win also be period Of special liability to
infectious diseases In the socaed Spanish Influenza with
s death ton exceeding losses in battle We have had
example Of what may be expected when millions Of
and women to live normally. IT,
Although It's precise origin is in doubt it seems to
its wide sweep and vrulence to the disturbances of war;
and for years win these disturbances wholly disappear
Hence among the other aspects Of readjustment it will
pay to give close attention the problems Of health
Eternal vigilance is not the price Of liberty alone; is
equally the price Of health
Thanks then, to this growing diffusion Of popular
knowledge the setting up Of collective safeguards Is much
esser than it used to be- Purity Of water supply nspec
ton Of milk supply sanitary disposal Of refuse and high
standards Of home and personal cleanliness together with
decreasing police restriction Of many recognized disease
caisn less opposed than before and the sen
ment behind them gradually extending the Of pre-
yentive or corrective action. a-s.'~ = ~.
Yet Dr.. Stephen J. Maher, president of the Con-
nectcut Public Health Association has recently pointed
out very ominous source Of peril common to all
American cities, remains not only psced but day by
day Ii growing worse. Pertinently he asks:
Of what protection will a scrubbed home and
bathed bodies be SO long even one member of the
family spends three TO hours week in street
subway in which the incipienty sick and the well
and the convaescing packed so tightly together
that neither those who sit those who stand can
hand footi
air to women who work in factories and who every
morning from a hurried breakfast rush into the dark
street and fight their way into the crowded at the
corner and who, at the close of their aruous day. find
themselves again in the clinging for support
to straps or to the and women beside themf
With what countenance can we preach to the door
about the desirabty of their holding sweet
with Nature, when the only provide for TAX
ing them from their homes to the country the shore
is crowded conveyance in which they must suffer
themselves for hour to be crushed tramped
sat and made to endure insults to their personal
dignity, well as to their ofactory and visual sensesi
How will the proposed health surveys of our towns
and cities help to ward off the next epidemic long
as we supply the oncoming disease with such ideal
incubators of pestencei
Why bother about segregating few "carriers of
disease" so long supply to millions of men,
women, and children every night and every morning
civilizations most perfect carriers of dsease'
The only answer consistent with public health and
public safety Of course is that the transportation of Amer
leans in cities should be reorganzed TO DO AWAY WITH
DANGEROUS oVERcRoWDING and to provide sufh
cheney OF service 50 that every fareayer may have fresh
air and comfortable seat
:; But they tell Us this is not possible
Who tells Us so?
The interests that seek profit strap hanging their
paid attorneys, and the mised folk they have fooled
Il win never be possible while the public conveyances
remain in private hands.
It win become possible when the people who use these
require them be run by the people for the
people, and require them to be run well
Today the costs of the infections spread by the over
crowded street not borne by the owners who col
e the fares but fan upon the victims and upon society
And It D with the threat of inhicting MORE overcrowdng
MORE disease and MORE burdens Of cost upon the people
who have to ride that these in dessn cities have
asked or win ask the privilege Of collecting vet higher
fares though offering guarantees of improved service
or Of Q lessened liability a. carriers Of disease.
Until now a: Dr: Mahsr has said the problem has
remained unssved in this country because the rich have
besa Indifferent and the poor helpless
In many cities there is revolt against the demands Of
traction companies There they have the vote with which
TO express opinion and voice dissatisfaction