The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-11-28
COOPERATING WITH THE HEALTH BOARD

Governor McCarthys appointment of a newspaper man as a mem
Der of the territorial board of health, demonstrates once more his sound
little bit to do with it. In fact the Governor himself would have made
a first class newspaper man had he got headed the right way in time
There may be a few people who imagine that McNalys appoint
ment was designed to be a buffer for the health board-a department
which for years has been a target for newspaper censure.
But those who think this don't know Governor Mccarthy.
AS editor, McNany has fired some high explosive shots at IN
health board-and hit the target too. But he most certainly was not
appointed with the idea of masking this kind of fire.
AS the Governor himself explains, he wants the editor to know the
facts at first hand, and then if he feels like slamming the board, well
He intimates that some of the criticism of the board has been due
to lack of information. And right here is the weak plate in the Gov
ernors armor.
WY did the newspapers lack information?
1t was certainly was not through fault of the papers themselves.
The truth probably is that the health board, as n the past has
been unwilling or afraid to take the newspapers into its confidence. 1t
has passed out" such dope" Is it believed the public should know.
And then has it held its tarchanber meetings Gas was done only
last week when the case of DR.. Patterson was being consldered) or IN
some other manner done the real work when no reporter was around TO
overhear. 1t has carefully kept IRON the papers tn actuatng causes
back of the decisions OF the board, and thus made it impossible to &C
curately measure the importance of the news" handed out.
This isn't intended to impugn the uot0eS OF the men who do this.
Almost without exception they have been men of more than usual
calbre and of a high standard of integrity They are simply victims
of habit. They have been medical men, under oath to protect their
patients; or men of semimlhary training, accustomed to dictate and
not to be questioned. 1t has been hard for them to avoid feeling that
newspaper reporters are simply inqusitive. busy-bodies avidy looking
for an unguarded word on which TO hang a sensational story.
No newspaper man is a troubemaker. If he did not have a high
y developed sense of discretion he could not long hold his job. But
men in public office themselves, when these men go on the theory that
the results OF their work must speak tor them.
Results too often are troubled with voice weakness.
No. The Governor shouldn't need to hunt newspaper men as
actual members of his official family in order to be certain of having
the work of the departments properly presented to the public. In fact
newspaper men do not ordinarily have a great deal of time to give to
other things, and for this reason indeed, might make poor officials.
But he might take a look at his school department, and perhaps
there discover the secret of how the newspapers and the public can
be brought into woodworking cooperation with the administration
for the good of the community; al enthusiastic three cornered admira-
ton society, as it we're. He would probably find that the newspapers
and the public are only too anxious to further their own interests If the
men in charge will trust them and give them a chance,