Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-28
Urges Battle
On Paralysis
Be Intensified
Gen. johnson Asks Drive
for Annual Fund
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

THIS column cannot let pass
without a word about the
annual drive for funds 10 fight
infantile paralysis ending on the
Presidents birthday.
This writer once organized
and conducted that effort for the
city of New York. While that
experience by no means made
him an expert on the scourge, il
did afford more than A casual
glimpse of the utter, stark neces-
sity of this annual attempt TO do
a little 10 strike back at the
substle. obscure enemy of
humanity and especially chill
dren.
The cause and means Of
spreading this infection are not
known. There is no specific cure.
But literal wonders have been
worked in tightening lis effects
if It's presence Is discovered IN
time.
This kind of treatment re-
qulrcs special equipment. If
equipment is available many of
the ravageS can be arrested.
The trouble is that there are few
hospitals, especially IN outlying
districts, where that equipment
exists.
TllE disease is not sufficiently
L widespread 10 arouse pub
lie interest and charity 70 pro-
vide these means of treatment
except IN the larger city hos
pltalS. This CirCuStanCe has cut
off thousands of suffering chill
dren OF families Of poor or mod
est means from assistance that
might save valuable lives, or at
least prevent these young people
from becoming human dcrclctS.
To improve this condition Is
one Of the objects OF this an
nuai effort So obscure Is the
disease that. II II had not been
for the Presidents brave eN-
ample I'm overcoming II and ms
permission TO use ms birthday
fort tie OCCASION -wotitd nTvC
been difficult 10 arouse the en-
thuSIaSm that has made each
yearly effort at least fairly
satisfactory.
That has been tor used 20
be- a two-cdGcd sword Al htst
the most unworthy motives We're
assigned 10 tins n birthday
celebration politics. Self-advcr-
tSemcnt and the like. Forum
aiCly that has become a thing Of
the past. So much good has
been done that there i no room
left for that kind of criticism.
THERE is another aspect Of
i tins effort entirely apart
from the furnishing of equip
ment for cure. A. earlier To-
marked. the causes and means
of infection of tins vicious germ
are not understood. For tniS
/ reason the arr Of prevention has
had 10 tumble IN the dark.
Other diseases that formerly
sometimes dcCImatcd " h q Q
communities have been largely
overcome typhoid tuberculosis
yellow fever, diphtncria and
several other, have been mostly
conquered by scientific work in
research Laboratories.
This fault has been rcwcdIcd.
a. least IN small part, by those
annual birthday drives. \ very
respectable and responsible in
fantiIc paralysis foundation has
been organized 10 allot part of
this money 10 finance research
work IN competent laboratories.
While this Is a long and tod
Gus process, AZ least a fair start
has been made. l. must not be
allowed 10 die AT It's beginning.
THERE is some danger Of that.
Il This is a war year among
the worst in history in It's bear
ing on tho savings and tho in
comes Of everybody. What they
do not give willingly TO such an
effort as this viii be taken away
IN taxes.
This is true even Of the lower
income groups. What they do
give here can he deducted on
their income tax returns up 10
very SiZeahle figure far more
than is being asked Of anybody
in this drive for dimes
II is 10 hc hoped that on all
these considerations, there will
he no lct-down in the inf low
from this most m crCiful OF
charities.
Distributed hy KING Features Synd Inc.
Reproduction IN whole or In par,
strictly prcb Itited