The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-16
DRIVE IS BEGUN
FOR TOWNER BILL
Bitter Attacks Against
Measure Arouse It's
Many Backers

wASHINGTON--So bitter has
become the criticism OF the Shcp-
pard .Towner ma aternity law
throughout tho country that
| friends OF the measure have
| begun propaganda In It's favor,
| hoping to forostall n movement 10
| repeal 70.
Massachusetts has declined to
make an appropriation to match
| the federal aid provided 10 the
states by the bill. In many quart
ers the bill has been attacked as
/ the last word In paternalism.
Whatever be the merits or de-
merits OF the TOWuer- Sheppard law
| neither party from its glass house
| can throw stones at the other, II
| was fothcred in the house by Com
/ gresham Towucr, republican, Iowa,
and I'm the senate by Senator Morris
| Sheppard. democrat, OF Texas.
Aroused by the attacks Of the
| bill Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunning
| ham, executive secretary o. tho
! National League Of Women Voters,
/ has issued a statement defending
Il. Mrs. Cunningham said:
"Thc shcppard-Towncr idea Is
that government experts should be
] i.ti
l OF mothers and babies Just as they
are called In when other matters
are TO the fore, and the use Of the
experts the government selects IL
a broadening of the work of educa-
tlon for which hospitals aud ply
siCl8us have SO long been lighting,
Prenatal care has reduced the ma
tcrial death ratio OF ono large
Brooklyn hospital TO unC-tenth TIE
rate In general city practice. Wom-
en- are taught there. first u all IN"
Importance Of consulting physicians
early In pregnancy and ~ following
their advice, which means frequent
visits. Small-tuwn and country
practitioners know the tragedies
which result from ignorance of this
necessity. They are used To hcirc
sent for when 1t Is too late: when
complications early consultatiou
could have avoided cost the life OF
mother and child Every well
phys clan halls with heartfelt re-
lief plan which viii lessen thal
appalling ignorance and bring O.
(, the country women some of thu
help the clinic-vislung city woman
enjoys. The discussion OF the
sheppard -ToWncr act provisions
, has brought 20 her physician many
woman who five years ago would
| have boon sacrificed 10 ignorance
and to old-wivos' advice.
$50 one supposcs that the new
| plan is 10 take over the work OF
| either tho physician or the county
| nurse The very small sum SCI
| aside for each state means that
| education I'm the real need for pre-
| natal care VIII begin to be natioi
! wide. not confined 10 cities. tina
the atNe boards Of health viii give
the benefit Of expert advice In way
, and means ~ lesscnlug unnccessarl
/. and prevcntable death.
1T IS the province OF the fed
, eral government TO stimulate stat'
, health work ana 10 cooperate Will
official state examinations, tn
-, conquering Of yellow fever and ,bu
, bouic plague prove what that co
, operation means. The sheppard
: Tnwner act means lust such stim
o ulation and cooperation for wome
@ and children, and the state whic
! does not accept It's provisions vi
A have difficulty In explaining o
what grounds its refusal IL based
! There 10 no cry that the depart
ment Of agriculture dictates 10 an
farmer how he shall farm his land
!, H. merely puts tralncd-mcn an'
p minds at his disposal. The Shep
3 part-Towner plan does precisely tn
o same thing for the health depart
& meuta which are everywhere wax
= ing to the need Of such holp.
o 1T Is well 10 help the former
r The whole country admits H. !
the heart Of the farmers wife wh
secs the added health Of stock, IN
: increased y,,,d 81 .,a!6, under cc
| partmcut OF agriculture advice
there is wlstful hope that IN
| helping hand viii be extended
her. too. 4 health center some
: where within rcach--oven 80 sma
'- beginning ~ a health conter a
, tho Sheppard Towucr u''n provide
! the advice Of person wh
n. knows, the certainty tSat 20
ing % her physician early and 70
J. peatedly is a thing the foyernmcI
!. recommends, not n foolish nouo
born Of lonely dcars and lack
p sclf-controi these arc the reason
why tho woman who does M
sneak out, the woman who mere
p cndurcs. hopes with heart and SOL
her state will accept the sheppard
"' 'Tpunpr Dlau.'