Evening star., 1921-07-29
PRESIDENT DEFENDS
POSITION TAKEN ON
PELLAGRA REPORTS
CONTINUED from First Page.)


spread of pellagra another season. In
my impression this is highly desirable,
and. confirmed by a telegram from Mr.;
Charles o. Hearon, editor of the Spar
tanburg Herald, which you have been
good enough to forward to me. In
part he says:
"1 am thoroughly familiar with the
pellagra studies that have taken place
here from the coming Of the Thompson
McFadden commission, with Capt. Siler
of the United States Army and Capt.
Garrison of the United States Navy on
that commission, to the final report on
the disease by DR.. Goldberger as the re-
suit of investigation made at the United
States Pellagra Hospital in this city.
Increase in Cases.
THAT institution was closed last Janu-
ary. l believe, but DR.. Wheeler. repre-
senting the public health department, is
still located here and is studying the dis
ease. He says there has been some in
crease in the number of cases. In my
Judgment, there is nothing alar ming in
the situation. but those Of us " 10 have
been interested in the study Of this dis
ease in this part of the country have
felt that the governments study Of
pellagra stopped just at the time it
should have been continued. The dis
ease subsided in the days of abnormal
prosperity and the experts predicted at
the time it might recur in any period of
the depression. do not know
what causes pellagra. but 1 think the
track and should continue its investiga-
ton just now. when they tell us the dis
ease Is coming back.
Stand justified.
There have been so many reports
nf calN hn NJ hiNh i1Is
tify Mr.. Hearon's views. and they have
come from such authority. that it has
seemed to me desirable to take the
steps which have been adopted. These
do not contemplate any organization
of relief measures or special extern
ton. covering the entire affected
area. shall make apparent that such
measures are necessary.
Il cannot but feel that if these re-
ports have msrepresented conditions
in any part of the south to the dis
advantage of that section, a full and
official refutation of them would be
highly desirable: while. If such in
vestigation should develop the need
for unusual measures of relief. those
could be promptly and intelligently
applied
thing in the administrations mind
has been to exaggerate the serious
ness of the situation or do anything
that would cause undue alarm. The
effort is merely to develop the facts
in order that a proper course may be
determined upon in view of them.
Most sincerely yours.
WARREN G. HARDING.''
Conference Called.
Health officers Of thirteen southern
states, where pellagra prevails, have
been invited by Surgeon General Cum
ming Of the United States public
health service to attend a conference
in this city August 4. to consider the
situation in connection with reports
of threatened epidemic of the dis
ease in the cotton belt. President
Harding has approved the call for
the conference.
The health officers of the following
states were asked to meet with p"b-
lie health service officials: Texas.
Louisiana, Oklahoma. Arkansas. Ten
nessee. Mississippi. Georgia. Alabama.
Kentucky. Florida. North and South
Carolina and Virginia.
House Asks Facts.
Coincident with issuance Of the in
vltations Representative Byrnes yester-
day introduced in the House a resolution
requesting the President, il not incom-
pa tible with public interests, to report
to the House all the facts within his
knowledge on which he based his
recent letter to the American Red
Cross in regard to conditions in por-
tions of the cotton belt.
Representative Byrnes said he
up for consideration within the next
few days
The resolution quoted fSom the
| letter sent by the President to DR.
Livingston Farrand. president of the
Red Cross. to the effect that reports
II Hl,
cotton market many thousands of
people are unable to sell their one
product for money wherewith to OBJ
tain a necessary variety of whole
some food and that there is grave threat
Of an epidemic of pellagra''
Mr.. Byrnes said. in commenting on his
resolution. that reports from the health
authorities in the south fail to show any
such alarming conditions" as were laid
before the President, and there was a
general desire to know how the informa-
ton on which the President acted was
obtained and from whom
Believes President MisIed.
Senator McKellar. democrat. Tennes-
see, in the Senate said that "a highly
sensational" report of threatened pellagr
had been sent out, and he was sure
President Harding was misnformed or
misled:" In Tennessee. Mr.. Mckellar
said. there was less pellagra than usual
Il respectfully ask the President not
to include Tennessee in using any Red
Cross or government agencies said Mr.
Mcclellan.
Senators Smith. democrat, South Caro-
lima, and Trammell, democrat, Florida
also said information from their states
was that there was no acute food short
age or unusua! pellagra conditions.
Senator Harris. democrat. Georgia,
stated he had received kilograms
fr0v oh vpoh nf
in his state and protested that reports
circulated with regard to food condi-
tions and pellagra were unfounded.
A letter from the Progressive
mons. democrat. North Carolina, as
serting there was no lack of food in
that state. The senator added that
he could assure the Senate there was
no justification for the reports of
food famine.
Sapafor Harriaon democrat MjSSis.