Evening star., 1921-07-31
DEN|ESP[AGUE OR
FAMINE IN SOUTH
Representative Byrnes Urges
President to Deal With Of.
! ficiaIs Starting Report.
THINKS INJUSTICE DONE
Writes Mr.. Harding He Welcomes
Pellagra Inquiry, But Sees
No Need of Charity.

Pellagra Inquiry, But Sees
No Need of Charity.
Representative Byrnes of South
Carolina asked President Harding
In letter Yesterday to take "appro-
pirate action toward ottioia 3 who BY
nisrepresentins conditions misied you
into making the statement that parts
of the south We're II lily menaced
with famine and plague"
Replying 10 tne ,.ent s letter OF
Friday in which Mr. harding said that
If investigation developed t. at reports
refutation would be desirable, MIR.
Byrnes wrote:
Thinks. President Misled.
~ wish to thank you very much for
your ,Sl.ri OF ~. go. ] a,rce that
IL is highly desirable taal tnt bui (. u
of punsIc heaiti service siouid con-
time lis inv st!Sut..n - !. .,.,iaG IL.
and | know that Con s.es. app.n,Ii j.
ated Tor Tn nscai .car S30u,U0v to
enable the s=rviCe to in. es;isat1 the
diseases of man the represvntativ. 8
OF the health service ad. sing our
appropriations committee that out of
this sum they would continue their
pellaSra Investigations. And there
Is no objection to tt special investi-
service to make. What deeply
regret. Mr.. President. and what | be-
lieve the people of the south regret.
Is that before such an investigat tion
as made you We're misied into stat
ing in your letter to the President of
1T must bring a shock to the
American people to realise that p gre
ssctiUn ui their own country, which
they are wont to think of as immune
> 1iom such experiences. is actually
menaced by famine and plague. For
mat is VII = would b. called If it
should befall any other country. and
We may as well give it ils right
name.
1t is, of course. a consequence of
the economic Decentralization follow
ing the war. and it demands instant
and vigorous attention. Our people.
80 long and so often moved by splen-
did charitrbieneSS toward unfortu-
mates of other lands viii never per
NIT such an affiiction here
Denies Existence OF Plague.
"Comins from the Pr sident of the
United states. this statement has
commanded attent on and has been
published in practically very news
lHper in this country. and doub less
IN the press Of other nations. IT is
10 these statements We take exception
we may be overs .nSitive. bu' the aver
age American disl;k"s to have placed
in front Of his door a flag ind ca in "
the presence of a plague. when "a
a matter of fact the. exists W tn, n
his home nothing to justify that char
a'terization. And. likewise. wher.
there is no famine he dislikes to be
neId up IS the object of charity anu
compared with the 'unfortunates of
Other lands for the relief of whoss
starvation and disease our people
nave so generously contributed
opon reflection l think You will
agree that these statements are moi
warranted by the report as to the in
erease or pellagra in Mississippi Even
II it should develop that these sta
ustics are correct, the indicated in
crease OF pellagra in one state would
NOT constitute plague or a menace
90 .he entire soush, b cause the dis
ease Is not contagious.
And certainly there is nothing in
tne telegram Of the editor of the
spartanburg Herald to warrant either
OF the two statements in question. In
.nat ne says: In my judgment there
which you quote he exDressed RI q
opinion that the health service shonid
continue it's investigation this wear
everybody agrees. and Congress- has
authorized it. But YOU will note
,hat ne says: In my Judgment there
Is nothing alarming in the situa tion
and in that part of the telegram which
you did not quote in your lett .r. and
WhIch bears directly upon the cues
tfon. Mr.. Hearon stated:
says Charity II Not Needed.
There is. of course. nothing even
approaching famine conditions in this
Hfrt or South Carolina. Crop condi-
lions are excellent. and there is to
De more food in this county. grown
Spon us own land, than ever in the
history OF. the county
i call 1T to yOur attention haoorsa
am satisfied it is true gener !,
the south The fact that cotton ia
seilins below the cost of production
has forced the south to the production
, VI more loodstuns And I repeat that
While the south Is appealing for as
sistance in marketing lis cotton at a
fair price. and for more liberal credits
IN order to hold it's product until such
Ialr price c"n be secured, it's speople
are not menaced with famine, and are
not seeking charity.
81 write you again because of vo,,r
statement that If Investigation deyelops
That reports have misrepressnted condi-
IONS an official refu;ation is desirable.
tnought that You should know that the
people OF the south do not question the
accuracy OF the statement that pellagra
may nave increased in some one OF in
several states. but what they complai in
OF is the statement that the entire south
s actually menaced with famine and
piheue. II yVu Will ulrect that the in
vestigation include the accuracy of this
statement. and IL the facts do not Justify
II, you will make an official refutation OF
II! IT will be exceedingly gratifying to
u.s. and ! shall hope that in doing so you
VIII take appropriate action toward the
officials who by misrepresentins coDdi-
tions misled you into making the state
menI.
81 assure you again. Mr.. President.
that 1t is, with great hesitation the
people OF the south have taken exception
10 your statement. They are conscious
OF the fact that your utterance was
based upon information you believed to
he reliable, and impelled by the hishest
motive that can prompt the actions Of
man.
Meat Offered for Relief.
The Institute OF American Meat Pack
ers announced yesterday that through
its president, Thomas E. Wilson. 20, 600
pounds OF meat had been offered Surgeon
General Cumming of the public health
service for use in prevention and cure
or pellegra In any district the service
might designate.
The telegram from Mr.. Wilson added
that the institute would be glad to CO.
operate II further quantities of meat
were needed and assumed. in Offering
the donation. the health service would
Organize proper and effective facilities
for distribution" The meat would be
selected by experts. 1t said. on the basis
OF "adaptability to pellegra patients.",
~ G NeT AaIV 1NAo