Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-14
WHAT IT ALL MEANS.

DPptn CDuiHR 10 INC Siuhft tipbi an
directions.
WHAT 1T ALL MEANS.
Some .imc ago, when ir became apparent
to the State Board Of Health that smallpox,
which had developed in the eastern end of
Sussex county was spreading and likely
to endangcr the rest of the state the boatd
issued an order directing that all residents
Of the following hundreds in that county
be vaccinated: Georgetown, Baltimore,
Dagsboro, Broadkiln, Iewes and Reho-
both and Indian River.
At first there was protest on the part
Of some persons, who did not think the
malady reported was smallpox, but after
IL became certain that IT WAS many COM
pied with the order without further
ceremony However, there were many
who did not, and, after time had been
given to comply the board began a cam
paign to compel vaccination where il had
been refused Members Of the board,
the secretary and commissioner were
engaged in this work.
As persuasion had failed in many cases
the secretary, Dir Conwell went 10
Georgetown ON Monday Az n result. of
his investigation there nc came tn the
conclusion that about three-fourths of the
people had obcycd the order but that the
other fourth had not. He got the names
ofsomc who had not and filed complaints
with Magistrate II 7 Stewart, who at his
request issued warrants. but he could find
nooificer to serve them, which was MIR
Wells experience Yesterday. DR.. Conwell
said he filed complaints against about
| lj people.
In the number was State Detective
Lynch, but at the request of Deputy At
torpey- General ID. ]. Layton, DR.. Conwell
/ said today. be agreed tn defer action in
the matter Of Lynch until some important
I'mattcrs In the attorney generals office,
assigned to him, had been attended to
Therefore, no warrant was Issued for
Lynch There uae one. however, for u
county offic,a, he said most Of the others
l,cing for prominent citizens Of the town.
wills cor MS owS EVIDENCE
Mr.. Wells went % Georgetown on
Monday night TO do what hn couid in the
matter Yesterday hc began survey of
the town, with regard 10 vaccination. He
Vi ,itcd about 40 mel chants on the main
street and found that of the total number
IL or II had not been vaccinatcd L.
was for these men that he issued the
warrants, hut when 70 officer could bc
found to serve them lis hands were tied
for the time being.
This was evidently The straw that
broke the camels back, in the opinion Of
those who were fighting vaccination, for
they must have decided then and there
to drive Wells out and rim the towns
health affairs TO suit themselves
This brings us up 70 the episode Of last
night
Mr. Wells said today that the action
at Georgetown last evening Is bnt the
beginning Of \ real fight 60 enforce the
State health laws andt will be question
for the State authorities 10 dcclde as TO
| whether law and order shall prevail or
mob rule
In ths crowd at Georgetown who took
part il last night S ncar-rot were some OF
Georgetown ) well-known citizens, who
may have to answer criminal chsrges
Wells was informed on his arrival at
Georgetown yesterday that he had bet
ter remain indoors after dark last night.
AZ there would likely be something
doing The crowd gave Wells TO under
stand that tn, fight vas not 50 much per
sona one with him. but against the State
Board Of Health Of Delaware, and that
had any other member Of the State beard
doEc as he had done. they would have
| been dealt with the same wav
DR.. Conwe0 stated that prompt legal
action would be taken against all Of
tenders ard d.sturbcrs Of the law IN last
night 5 affair
ATTO.iSET- -GE NERAL WILL ACT.
81 am going to take some action in =
dav or two, but before do ANYTHING
| want to know all the facts IN the case,
said Attorney General Reinhardt this
morning.
Il had a talk with Governor Townsend
this morning, and | expect to investigate
the affair that Is alleged To have taken
place at Georgetown last night. Until
have all the data at hand | will be unable
to say what action | shall take" Mr.
Relnhardt said that Deputy Attorney
General Daniel J. Layton OF Georgetown
WAS IN consultation with hin IN hls
office in the Ford Building in tins city
yesterday afternoon and last night work
lEg on the sussex County small pox situa-
ton. Ihe Attorney General wished to
correct any misunderstanding that might
arise relative to MIR Layton $ presence
here lie said that Mr. Wells and Mr.
Frank Jones knew that MIR Layton was
coming to Wilmington yesterday alter
noon 10 consult with him The health
officials thus understood that his ser
wees would not be available last night
for any action they might be considering
MIR. Rcinhardt and Mr. Layton WORK
al until after midnight searching for
any law or part OF the law dealing with the
Sussex situation. They did not know until
this morning of the action taken by the
Georgetown people as stated III news dis
patches IN the newspapers which referred
to Mr. Wells being escorted out Of George
town. Mr.. Layton was IN town tins morn
ing but refused to make any statement
as to what he might do until after he had
returned 10 Georgetown and aseertalned
Just what had taken place
Mr. " ellis and the health officials had
been informed in 4 letter from Attorney
General Renhardt under date Of January
10 Just how far they might proceed IN
the prosecution Of cases where citizens
refused to become vaccinuted
The Attorney General informed the
State health officials that Deputy At
torncy General Layton would aid them in
| every way, according to the law but tina
they must not expect the Deputy Attorney
/ General to render service at Il minute S
notice in these eases neglecting all other
4 official work.
MIR Renhardt SAID this morning that
/ nnmors to the effect that Mr. Layton had
+ refused to render aid III the smallpox situa-
| tion were unfoundod On the contrary
/ he said that he knows that the Deputy
! Attorney General for Sussex county
would do all that could be expected OF
i him to enforce the laW and insure the
health oi the community. As evidence of