The New York Times/1918/04/09/Denies Tale of Deaths from Inoculation
Representative Reavis Says Anti-Vivisectionist Circular Is "Almost Treasonable."
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, April 8.—Representative Charles F. Reavis of Nebraska in the House today denounced a circular issued by the National Anti-Vivisection Federation, which asserted that inoculation of American soldiers was causing thousands of deaths in army cantonments. After reading the circular to the House he said that he had sent it to the Department of Justice with the recommendation that action be taken against the federation.
The circular, which is being sent to Congressmen and others, contained this statement objected to by Mr. Reavis:
"Thousands of deaths deliberately inflicted upon our soldiers and sailors have passed the scandal line. It has become a tragedy."
This sentence was preceded by the statement that the soldiers in cantonments were being inoculated and dying from inoculations rather than disease. The sentence was the conclusion of the federation's argument against inoculation.
"This statement is going into the homes of the nation and creating anxiety almost indescribable," said Mr. Reavis. "What is meant by it is that the Government, by inoculating soldiers against typhoid and other diseases, is deliberately killing thousands of soldiers in cantonments.
"I do not know of a single cantonment in the United States today where the boys are not given the most careful and solicitous care, and statements of this kind, untrue as they are, at this particular time, when we are calling for an additional draft, are absolutely unpatriotic and almost treasonable in their effect.
"I intend to see that the document gets into the hands of the Department of Justice to give it an opportunity to investigate this so-called federation and stop it, as it ought to be stopped, at once."