Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-23
DECREE OF SUPREME COURT
BLOCKS the EFFORTS or
HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
CONTROL OF vENEREAL
DISEASES GETS SETBACK
Recent Decision VIII Result in Dis
organizing Plans Of Communities to
Eradicate Disease Before Soldiers
Como Home-Status OF Clinics es.
tabiished in Various Cities in Doubt.

Des Noines, Jan. ga body dow
was dealt 10 the crusade against social
diseases in Iowa by the decision OF
the supreme court this week. The
court holds that no one may be COM
PEELED to submit to examination FOR
venereal disease. The decision is bot
toned on the principle that to do so
would be a violation of personal rights
guaranteed under the constitution.
The decree will result in disorganiz-
ing all crusades against these diseases
in Iowa. The plan of attempting to
stamp out social diseases began In
wartime. as a war measure. II was
directed in this state by Capt. E. J.
Mclaughlin. a medical officer con-
office. Clinics were established in
Waterloo, Sioux City, Des Moines'
Marshalltown and other cities. The
plea was made that social diseases
among the civilian population should
be banished before the soldiers came
home.
Medical Examinations Made.
In several places, notably in Sioux
| CITY and Des Moines, rl'cT were con-
Quoted al different times upon places
suspected OF harboring public char
acters. The inmates were herded of 10
! place of confinement until examina-
| tons could be made TO determine
| whather the men ana women were
affected by contagious disease. Under
the authority exercised by the officers
| any one suspected of being infected
might be picked up on the streets and
! forced TO undergo examination. Isolated
! hospitals were esta blished where the
| public characters could be restrained
| and treated. Those in the civilian
population were urged to come to tn.
clinics for examination and treatment.
Food Purveyors Examined.
As q part Of the crusade an order
was issued directing that all men and
| women in restaurants, hotels, candy
| factories. etc, who handled food prod
uCts go to a physician for examina-
! ton. This was done in Waterloo. A
| restaurant man stated today his en-
/ pIoyes and all others In the same line
| had TO pay 81 each for the examination
| which was done BY any physician. II
| found free from infection a certificate
was issued. Without such certificate
! such a bill Of clean health-em-
| ployes in places where food products
were manufactured or purveyed were
not to be retained.
There was loud protest against this
| order in places where girls, employee
as stenographers, bookkeepers, filing
clerks and general clerks. waited on
table in payment for their dinners.
Future in Doubt.
Just what will be done where
clinics have been established and
isolation hospitals maintained Is not
| known at present. 1t Is certain, how
ever. under the decision in question,
that there must be a stop Of all at
tempts TO force examination Of sus-
poets. In some cities, notably In Des
| Moines, where a large sum OF money
| was invested in a hospital, the work
| will be continued, but 1t will be along
| voluntary lines. A campaign OF educa
ton will be conducted and an appeal
made to young people who may be
affected from social diseases to come
for cure.
Those interested in the betterment
Of public health along other lines than
the one under discussion express fear
that the effect of the decision will be
insalutary. They fear it may hinder
| the movement for better housing and
for the stamping out of other infec-
tious diseases.