The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-02


Microbes are great social Jewellers.
we have learned that no town can
enjoy health unless the people living
in the next town are fairly prosper
Gus and healthy. We have found that
IL we want to remain well ourselves
and have healthy wives and children.
that we must look after the poorest
and slowliest members of the COM
munty Thus an enlightened self Inter
est compels US to DO what our Chris
tan spirit demands in the name of
charity and religion.
In the state of Virginia a special
commission OF sanitary experts was
appointed by the governor in pursu-
ance to an act of the legislature in
1914. This commission reported in
1915 that the seven largest cities of
Virginia were so overloaded with con-
sumption that the death rate was far
higher than in other cities in other
states Likewise they found that the
negroes suffered about three times as
many deaths in proportion to the pop
ulation as white in the same cities.
In one city it was even 311 to on l..
Servant girls, nurse maids and cooks
were found to be so heavily infected
with consump tion as to be an urgent
danger to the white families in which
they worked. Therefore they report
ed that the only way to lessen the
consumption danger among whites was
30 cure the negro population if posi-
Bile. They recommended the enforce
ment of better housing for the poor,
better food, better care, an education
al campaign in health matters, and
free sanitarium treatment for the
poor.
We will have to apply the same
principle to all the infectious and con-
tagious diseases. If we want to build
an enduring civilization that we may
be proud of, and leave something for
our children's benefit, we will have to
meet our problems boldly, and correct
the inhumanities and shams and fakes
and pretenses that beset us now. And
it will not do to shift all of this onto
the shoulders of our elected authori-
ties They can only carry into effect
the expressed will of the majority.
They can go no farther or faster than
we give them authority to go. No
progressive measure can be put thru
without being backed up by public
opinion.
The United States is now responsi-
BILE for at least four groups or colonies
of lepers. The largest is in the Ha-
waiian islands where one island is
set part for them. There are some IN
the Philippine Islands. Besides We
have one colony in Louisiana near New
Orleans, and another among the Nor
wegians in Minnesota. The best med
ical opinion favors an outdoor life
for lepers. Hence our national health
experts naturally look to tns best out
be the least harm to all concerned.
Hence the selection of small island
near the town of Cedar Keys, Oh the
west coast, about SO miles southwest of
Gainesville and far away from large
cities, would seem to be the best for all
concerned. Under proper sanitary
precautions the transference of the
Louisiana and Minnesota colonies
should be no danger to the states they
have to pass through. After being set
tied on an island they can be no dan
ger to any except those who are
charged with their care. So why
should any real. estate promoters or
candidates for office make great big
noise about it, 1t is plain hurnani-
tartan duty and the less said about it
the better it will commend itself to
non -F'loridians. who may wish 10 cast
their lot among us.
willing to shoulder their part of the
white mans burden
Here it is we'll to close with Kip
1ing's Immortal lines:
take up the White, Mans burden-in
patience to abide,
To veil the threat Of terror and check
the show of pride.
BY open speech and simple, an hun
bred times made plain,
To seek anothers profit and work an
others gain.'