The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-08-10
THAT PELLAGRA MYSTERY.

The injustice done to the South IN
the recently heralded famine situa-
tion in this section has been discuss
ed from a great many points of view.
| by newspapers in all portions of the
United States. One of the most in
telligent and sensible discussions of
the many we have noted comes from
the Boston, Mass, Herald, and is as
follows:
"A very curious, not to say mysteri-
GUS situation exists in connection
with the spread, or alleged spread, of
pellagra in the Southern States. The
South insists that there is no spread
of pellagra, or none of any conse-
quence, and therefore declines the Of
fered assistance on the ground that
it is not needed. But our papternal
government in Washington sweeps
aside these objections, refuses to be
put off, and announces unalterable
determination to perform the propos-
ed service of kindness and charity.
Boards of health all over the South
protested that there was practically
no spread of pellagra and that on
| the whole there was a decrease rath-
er than an increase in cases, that the
situation was well In hand, and that
there was no need for Federal inter
We ntion. AS a typical example OF
Southern newspaper comment, the
Valdosta, Ca, Times, of July 81 says:
Thousands of health officers
from all sections of the South are
today asking President Harding
where did you get that stuff
about the semi-famine and threat
ened pesIagra epidemic over
large portion Of the cotton grow
ing section of the South And
the showing which is being made
by the authorities is apparently
indicating that the President was
very badly misinformed."
Representative Byrnes of South
Carolina wrote to President Harding
characterizing the report of pellagrs
plague or famine in his State as ian
utter absurdity' and declared that II
would be unfortunate IL tht Red
Cross should be called upon to re
lieve a. plague and famine of which
the people OF South Carolina are I'M
aware.
According to the dispatches. Pres
Ident Harding in reply expressed sat
isfaction that South Carolina was sol
fortunately situated and said we
must all hope complete information
will show conditions generally arc
equally satisfactory, but added that
unfortunately the reports indicate
that they are not and mildly but firm
lg announced that the government
investigation would go on. Reports
of the Federal Public Health Service
were referred to without giving them
In detail The only Southerner cited
in favor of the proposition was
Charles 0. Hearon, editor of the Spar
tanburg, S. c., Herald, who was quot
ed as saying that the Public Fealtb
Service was on the right track and
should continue the investigation.
THE sum of the situation Is thai
the South denies any need and de
clines assistance. while the Govern
ment continues to affirm and insist,
on extending It's good offices. Whai
can be the, true explanation of two
views or policies so astonishingly a
variance Is the South willing to see
pelagra sINaad wfdu1' rlthyr thar
consent 70 the commercial injury 81
Imaginable injury, of publicity? This
Ii Incredible Possibly some boards
81 trade might but no board of health
would. on the other hand are the
Public Health Service and the RED
Cross out OF work aud determined tcI
lend a job even whore no possibilities
for one existsg This also is incredi
Bile. The mystery-for unquestiona
bly, there lis mystery