Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-07
Going on Hnlf-Cnckrd

| iiEhT- Is reason 10 believe from the
abundant testimony which is deluging
Washington at the moment that a misguided
President has done serious injustice to
the South in proclaiming as fact the exist
ence of semi-famine conditions through the
cotton belt and the prevalence of an appall-
ing number OF pellagra cases If Mr. Hard
ing finds, upon further inquiry. that he was
misled as TO the true state of affairs, as
hundreds of competent witnesses assert. he
should lose no time in confessing the mis-
take which he made.
The famine pellagra story is no new reye-
lation For weeks minor Officials i'm the
Pubic Health Service have been seeking to
get their statements on the subject into the
newspapers. What may have been their
purpose Is yet to be disclosed. They may
have been truly alarmed and therefore,
sincere III their warning But Southern
Senators and Representatives suspect that
the service has been dealing in official sen
sationalism for the purpose OF securing
large appropriations for its work
This suspicion may be as unfair to an old
and efficient bureau Of the government as
that bureaus pcllagra publicity has been
unfair To the South. 1t is TOO soon TO i'm
peach motives in Il matter of this sort. but
II IS not too soon for the administration TO
satisfy itself absolutely as to tho facts in
the case and to act upon those facts.
Not until President Hardings communi-
cation To SUPERINTENDENT Cummings and
to the Red Cross. calling upon these agcn-
cies for Il full and comprehensive report
as TO the spread of pclagra and the causes
OF that spread did the South or the coun-
Try take serious notice Of the situation
Southern communities are now indignant
over what they believe to be an unnten-
tional but none the less damaging libel upon
them.
1t Is. OF course. no secret that pcllagra
exists i'll the South 1t has existed there for
years, and at seasons ii has seemed to be
spreading. For the most part the disease
prevails among negroes, who, in their igno-
rance. know little about its prevention or
lis cure. This fact does not lessen the
concern over the matter On the contrary
1t imposes special obligation upon the more
enlightened people of the South to take such
measures as may be possible 10 control the
ravagcs OF the plague.
mat SUCH measures are being taken is
indicated clearly by the volume OF tcle-
grams and other COMMUNICATIONS from local
health Offices in the various Southern States
addressed to their members of the House
"''" tt.'"At'' complaining bitterly against
what amounts to an aspersion upon such
health authorities and upon communities
which are pictured AS accepting with com
paccncy situation that is revolving to
every uniformed mind.
Tile South will not resent efforts M, for
ward by the Federal government to di-
n!nish the ravagcs of pelagra 1t has
gratefully accepted such efforts in the mas,
and II will cheerfmlly cooperate with the
Public Health Service and the Red Cross
i'll any fresh movement To that end which
may be undertaken. But the South does
resent with good reason. sweeping and
alarming misstatements as to The extent OF
This disease and rs TO what is described as
contributing cause The South certainly
Is not on Il famine or semi famine basis Tho
people of the South, for the most part ARE.
a. well led as any in the East or West