the americanization of edward bok-第58节
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nd told them that was exactly why the Journal had published the editorial； and that in the next issue there would be another for those women who might have missed his first。 He insisted that the time had come when women should learn the truth； and that； so far as it lay in his power； he intended to see that they did know。
The tide of public opinion at last turned toward The Ladies' Home Journal and its campaign。 Women began to realize that it had a case； that it was working for their best interests and for those of their children； and they decided that the question might as well be faced。 Bok now felt that his part in the work was done。 He had started something well on its way； the common sense of the public must do the rest。 He had taken the question of natural life； and stripped it of its false mystery in the minds of hundreds of thousands of young people； had started their inquiring minds； had shown parents the way； had made a forbidden topic a debatable subject； discussed in open gatherings； by the press； an increasing number of books； and in schools and colleges。 He dropped the subject； only to take up one that was more or less akin to it。
That was the public drinking…cup。 Here was a distinct menace that actual examples and figures showed was spreading the most loathsome diseases among innocent children。 In 1908； he opened up the subject by ruthlessly publishing photographs that were unpleasantly but tremendously convincing。 He had now secured the confidence of his vast public； who listened attentively to him when he spoke on an unpleasant topic； and having learned from experience that he would simply keep on until he got results； his readers decided that this time they would act quickly。 So quick a result was hardly ever achieved in any campaign。 Within six months legislation all over the country was introduced or enacted prohibiting the common drinking…cup in any public gathering…place； park； store； or theatre； and substituting the individual paper cup。 Almost over night； the germ…laden common drinking…cup； which had so widely spread disease； disappeared； and in a number of States； the common towel； upon Bok's insistence； met the same fate。 Within a year； one of the worst menaces to American life had been wiped out by public sentiment。
Bok was now done with health measures for a while； and determined to see what he could do with two or three civic questions that he felt needed attention。
XXXI。 Adventures in Civics
The electric power companies at Niagara Falls were beginning to draw so much water from above the great Horseshoe Falls as to bring into speculation the question of how soon America's greatest scenic asset would be a coal…pile with a thin trickle of water crawling down its vast cliffs。 Already companies had been given legal permission to utilize one…quarter of the whole flow； and additional companies were asking for further grants。 Permission for forty per cent of the whole volume of water had been granted。 J。 Horace McFarland； as President of the American Civic Association； called Bok's attention to the matter； and urged him to agitate it through his magazine so that restrictive legislation might be secured。
Bok went to Washington； conferred with President Roosevelt； and found him cognizant of the matter in all its aspects。
〃I can do nothing；〃 said the President； 〃unless there is an awakened public sentiment that compels action。 Give me that； and I'll either put the subject in my next message to Congress or send a special message。 I'm from Missouri on this point；〃 continued the President。 〃Show me that the American people want their Falls preserved； and I'll do the rest。 But I've got to be shown。〃 Bok assured the President he could demonstrate this to him。
The next number of his magazine presented a graphic picture of the Horseshoe Falls as they were and the same Falls as they would be if more water was allowed to be taken for power： a barren coal…pile with a tiny rivulet of water trickling down its sides。 The editorial asked whether the American women were going to allow this？ If not； each； if an American； should write to the President； and； if a Canadian； to Earl Grey； then Governor…General of Canada。 Very soon after the magazine had reached its subscribers' hands； the letters began to reach the White House； not by dozens； as the President's secretary wrote to Bok； but by the hundreds and then by the thousands。 〃Is there any way to turn this spigot off？〃 telegraphed the President's secretary。 〃We are really being inundated。〃
Bok went to Washington and was shown the huge pile of letters。
〃All right；〃 said the President。 〃That's all I want。 You've proved it to me that there is a public sentiment。〃
The clerks at Rideau Hall； at Ottawa； did not know what had happened one morning when the mail quadrupled in size and thousands of protests came to Earl Grey。 He wired the President； the President exchanged views with the governor…general； and the great international campaign to save Niagara Falls had begun。 The American Civic Association and scores of other civic and patriotic bodies had joined in the clamor。
The attorney…general and the secretary of state were instructed by the President to look into the legal and diplomatic aspects of the question； and in his next message to Congress President Roosevelt uttered a clarion call to that body to restrict the power…grabbing companies。
The Ladies' Home Journal urged its readers to write to their congressmen and they did by the thousands。 Every congressman and senator was overwhelmed。 As one senator said： 〃I have never seen such an avalanche。 But thanks to The Ladies' Home Journal； I have received these hundreds of letters from my constituents； they have told me what they want done； and they are mostly from those of my people whose wishes I am bound to respect。〃
The power companies； of course； promptly sent their attorneys and lobbyists to Washington； but the public sentiment aroused was too strong to be disregarded； and on June 29； 1906； the President signed the Burton Bill restricting the use of the water of Niagara Falls。
The matter was then referred to the secretary of war； William Howard Taft； to grant the use of such volume of water as would preserve the beauty of the Falls。 McFarland and Bok wanted to be sure that Secretary Taft felt the support of public opinion； for his policy was to be conservative； and tremendous pressure was being brought upon him from every side to permit a more liberal use of water。 Bok turned to his readers and asked them to write to Secretary Taft and assure him of the support of the American women in his attitude of conservatism。
The flood of letters that descended upon the secretary almost taxed even his genial nature； and when Mr。 McFarland； as the editorial representative of The Ladies' Home Journal； arose to speak at the public hearing in Washington； the secretary said： 〃I can assure you that you don't have to say very much。 Your case has already been pleaded for you by； I should say at the most conservative estimate； at least one hundred thousand women。 Why； I have had letters from even my wife and my mother。〃
Secretary Taft adhered to his conservative policy； Sir Wilfred Laurier； premier of Canada； met the overtures of Secretary of State Root； a new international document was drawn up； and Niagara Falls had been saved to the American people。
In 1905 and in previous years the casualties resulting from fireworks on the Fourth of July averaged from five to six thousand each year。 The humorous weekly Life and The Chicago Tribune had been for some time agitating a restricted use of fireworks on the national fete day； but nevertheless the list of casualties kept creeping to higher figures。 Bok decided to help by arousing the parents of America； in whose hands； after all； lay the remedy。 He began a series of articles in the magazine； showing what had happened over a period of years； the criminality of allowing so many young lives to be snuffed out； and suggested how parents could help by prohibiting the deadly firecrackers and cannon； and how organizations could assist by influencing the passing of city ordinances。 Each recurring January； The Journal returned to the subject； looking forward to the coming Fourth。 It was a deep…rooted custom to eradicate； and powerful influences； in the form of thousands of small storekeepers； were at work upon local officials to pay no heed to the agitation。 Gradually public opinion changed。 The newspapers joined in the cry； women's organizations insisted upon action from local municipal bodies。
Finally； the civic spirit in Cleveland； Ohio； forced the passage of a city ordinance prohibiting the sale or use of fireworks on the Fourth。 The following year when Cleveland reported no casualties as compared to an ugly list for the previous。 Fourth； a distinct impression was made upon other cities。 Gradually； other municipalities took action； and year by year the list of Fourth of July casualties grew perceptibly shorter。 New York City was now induced to join the list of prohibitive cities； by a personal appeal made to its mayor by Bok； and on the succeeding Fourth of July the city authorities； on behalf of the people of New York City； conferred a gold medal upon
