Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-02
BYRNES REPLIES To
PRESIDENT SLETTER
ON PELLAGRA CASES

Sdluruuy take appropriate dCC1on TO-
ward officials who, by misrepresent-
ing conditions, misled you into MAX
ing the statement" that parts of the
south were actually menaced with
famine and plague"
Mr.. Byrnes' letter was in reply to
the presidents letter of yesterday in
which Mr.. Harding said that if in
vestigation developed that reports
had misrepresented conditions, Off
cial refutation would be desirable.
Text Of Reply
The text Of Mr.. Byrnes' letter to
the president follows:
IT wish to thank you very much
for your letter of the twenty-eighth.
I agree that it is highly desirable
that the bureau of public health
service should continue it's investi-
cation as to pellagra, and I know
that congress appropriated for this
fiscal year 100000 to enable the
service to investigate the diseases
of man. the representatives of
health service advising our appro-
priations committee that out of this
sum they would continue their pei
lagra Investigations. And there is
no objection to the special investiga-
ton you have directed the health
service to make. What I deeply re-
greet, Mr.. President, and what I be-
lieve the people Of the south regret,
is that before such an investigation
was made, you were misled into stat
ing in your letter to the president
Of the Red Cross:
cit must bring a shock to the
American people to realize that a
great section of their own country,
which they are wont to think of as
immune from such experiences, is
actually menaced by famine and
plague. For that is what it would
be called if it should befall any 9TH
er country, and we may as well
give it's right name.
"'It is, of course, a consequence
Of the economic disorganization fol-
lowing the war, and it demands in
slant and vigorous attention. Our
people, so moved by splendid chart
tableness towards unfortunates OF
an affliction here
Coming from the president OF the
United States this statement mas
commanded attention and has been
published in practically every news
paper in this country, and doubtless
in the press Of other nations. 1t is
to these statements we take excep-
ton. We may be over-sensltlVe, but
the average American dislikes to nave
placed in front Of his doors flag
-. ~ n n
when, as a matter of fact, there ex-
lists within his home nothing to JUS
tify that characterization. And like
wise, where there is no famine he
dislikes to be held up as the opJect
Of charity and compared with the
'unfortunates of other lands for the
relief of whose starvation and dis
ease our people have so generously
contributed.
NO Charity Needed
upon reflection, I think you Will
agree that these statements are not
warranted by the report as to the IN
crease of pellagra in Mississippi,
Even if it should develop that these
statistics are correct, the indicated
increase of pellagra In one state
menace to the entire south, because
the disease is not contagious:
"And certainly there is nothing IN
the telegram Of the editor OF the
Spartanburg Herald to warrant either
of the two statements in question.
In that part of Mr.. Hearon's telegram
which you quote, he expressed the
opinion that the health service should
continue it's Investigations this year.
Everybody agrees. and congress mas
that he says: TN my judgment there
is nothing alarming in the sltTa-
ton and, in that part of the tele-
gram which you did not quote in
your letter, and which bears directly
upon the question, Mr.. Hearon stated:
There is, of course, nothing even
approach famine conditions in this
part of South Carolina. Crop cond1-
lions are excellent and there is to be
more food in this county, grown upon
it's own land, than ever in the MIS-
tory Of the county,
T am satisfied it is true generally or
the south. The fact that cotton is
selling below the cost of produc-
ton has forced the south to the pro-
repeat that while the south is APP
pealing for assistance in marketing
it's cotton at a fair price, and for
more liberal credits in order to hold
it's product until such fair price can
be secured, it's people are not men
aced with famine and are not seek
ing charity.
Requests REPUTATION
ST write you again because of your
statement that, if investigation de-
velops that reports have misrepre-
scented conditions an official refuta-
should know that the people of the
south do not question the accuracy
of the statement that pellagra may
have increased in some. one or in
several states, but what they COM
plain of is the statement that the
&c
with famine and plague If you will
direct that these investigations in
clude the accuracy Of this state
ment and if the facts do not justify
it, you Will make an official refuta-
tion of it, it will be exceedingly
that in doing so you will take APP
propriate action toward the officials
who, by disappearing conditions
misled you into making the state
ment.
II assure you again, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that it is with great hesitation
the people of the south have taken
exception to your statement. They
are conscious Of the fact that your
,utterance was based upon informa-
ton you believed to be reliable, and
impelled by the highest motive that
prompt the actions Of man."
The Institute of American Meat
through it's president, Thomas E. Will
son, Chicago, 10000 pounds of
general, Cumming, of the public
health service for use in prevention
and cure of the pellagra in any dis
trict the service might designate.
The telegram, from Mr.. Wilson,
added that the institute would be
glad to cooperate if further quanti-
ties of meat were needed, and as
sumed in offering the donation that
the health service would "organize
proper and effective facilities for dis
tribution." The meat would be Sc
lected by experts, it said, on the
basis of "adaptability of pellagra
PATIENTS