Foley Denounces Daubing of Homes

From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, October 25: Michael E. Foley, chair of the State Council of Defense, issued a statement yesterday condemning daubing homes with yellow paint of those suspected of disloyalty. A mob spirit was demonstrated earlier in the week when two Indianapolis homes of persons alleged to have failed to buy Liberty Bonds were splattered with yellow paint on the steps and porch and “Refused to Buy Bonds” was written on the front walk. Police were called to disperse a crowd of sightseers. A few instances of yellow painting have been reported in other parts of Indiana. “The failure of any citizen to loyally support the government at this hour will not…justify any citizen in doing any act…intended to incite the public mind, or to bring the law and public authorities of Indiana into disrepute,” Foley said.

“Foley Denounces Daubing of Homes,” The Indianapolis Star, 25 October 1918, p. 1:3

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Shortage of Nurses Handicaps Flu Fight

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, October 22: Following emergency calls for aid from several Indiana counties where the influenza death rate approaches one in every 200 residents, Captain William King, assistant secretary of the state board of health, declared the most serious aspect of the influenza epidemic in Indiana is the lack of trained nurses. Relief in this connection was assured yesterday with the announcement that the Red Cross will establish a state nurses’ clearing house to handle the registration and assignment of nurses. The state board insists that private nurses should be released except in life or death cases and physicians are requested to postpone surgical operations unless necessary to save life. Every registered nurse, every practical nurse and every woman with sufficient training are called upon to place their services through the Red Cross to fight this disease.

“’Shortage of Nurses Handicaps Flu Fight,” The Indianapolis Star, 22 October 1918, p. 1:6

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Ban on Influenza Holds Until Oct. 26

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, October 18: Because of the “continued prevalence of the influenza epidemic,” the state-wide ban on all public gatherings will continue until October 26. The Indianapolis board of health established an opening time of 9:45 a.m. and a closing time of 6:15 p.m. for all retail stores in the Indianapolis downtown district, except groceries and drugstores, to reduce crowded conditions in the stores. Health officials have warned that the influenza-pneumonia epidemic has by no means slowed, and that everyone must take the greatest care if the progress of the disease is to be checked. Since the first of the month, a total of 3,690 civilian cases with 170 civilian deaths have been reported in the city. Persons who need to sneeze or cough should use handkerchiefs as the disease is communicated by promiscuous coughing and sneezing.

“Ban on Influenza Holds Until Oct. 26,” The Indianapolis News, 18 October 1918, p. 1:2

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