A portrait of Reuben Lentz (1851-1925), a member of the School Board of Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, who was arrested in March 1906 along with other members of the Board for conspiracy to induce teachers to violate Pennsylvania’s compulsory vaccination law. The portrait, which was probably taken about 25 years before the 1906 situation, was cropped from a carte de visite publicly posted on an Ancestry.com family tree.
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As a prelude to articles describing the arrest of the school directors, a copy of the actual resolution of December 9, 1905 that triggered the arrest is presented here. From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 28, 1906, in its report on the trial:
The resolution adopted by the board…
“Enders, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1905 — A special meeting was called by the president, R. W. Lutz, for the purpose of coming to a conclusion as to what can or shall be done with the vaccination law, after which the following resolutions were adopted:
“Whereas. The compulsory school law and the vaccination law are conflicting and whereas we are not able to interpret them satisfactorily, therefore be it
“Resolved. That we continue our schools and admit all pupils until there is some definite by the higher authorities or by the courts.”
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In early February, the newspapers began reporting that arrests were imminent and that the Jackson Township situation would probably be a test case in the State. From the Lykens Standard, February 2, 1906:
Jackson Schoolboard to be Sued
Wednesday’s Harrisburg Patriot says: “Preliminary steps for the prosecution of the School Directors of Jackson Township may be taken within a few days by the State and county authorities as the result of the alleged admission of unvaccinated children to the schools of the district in defiance of the State laws. The proceeding will probably be a test case selected from a number of similar conditions reported from other counties throughout the Commonwealth. Tuesday Frank M. Eastman, council representing State Commissioner of Health Dixon, conferred with District Attorney Weiss about bringing the charges. No announcement of intention was made but it is said that suit will be entered on a charge of conspiracy to defeat the objects of a State law as soon as the papers can be drawn. The directors will be the defendants.”
“The allegations are that the directors decided to admit children to school whether they could produce proper certificates of vaccination or not. It is said that Miss Lehr, a teacher employed at or near Fisherville, refused to admit children who had not been vaccinated and resigned when her course was criticized. Another teacher is now in charge of the school and, it is claimed, has been allowing children to mingle regardless of the law. The directors are understood to have employed counsel and will contest the charges.”
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The criminal conspiracy charges were brought in March. From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 8, 1906:
STATE HEALTH BOARD BRINGS SUIT AGAINST SCHOOL DIRECTROS
Jackson Township Officials Must Answer Charge of Conspiracy
THEY HAVE OPPOSED VACCINATION LAW
Minister Alleged to Have Been a Leader in the Movement
ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY SIMILAR SUITS
Arrests Made Today and Hearings Scheduled for Saturday Afternoon
Charges were brought against the school directors of Jackson Township, Dauphin County, today before S. B. Caveny, alderman of the Second Ward for conspiracy to defeat the operation of the compulsory vaccination law. Similar charges were brought against a clergyman and another resident of the township who are alleged to have co-operated with the directors to defeat the purposes of the law.
State Health Commissioner Dixon charges that the defendants adopted resolutions to permit the attendance of children in the schools of the township regardless of whether they were vaccinated. All attempts to induce them to revoke their action have been futile.
First of Many Suits
This is only the first of many suits, of the kind to be brought under this act. Although Commissioner Dixon has received several anonymous letters threatening his life if he did not cease his efforts, he stated to-day that he would at once proceed against school directors and teachers throughout the State who persistently refuse to enforce the compulsory vaccination law.
Agents of the health department are now traveling over the State securing evidence against the alleged offenders and in several districts have sufficient evidence to justify Commissioner Dixon in bringing charges.
Minister Sued
The charges, brought by Morris K. Ely, special agent of the Department of Health, are against Reuben Lentz, John W. Miller, James F. Garverich, and James M. Wolford, school directors, and Samuel A. Garnes, a minister, and A. J. Spannuth, a citizen. The formal charge is “conspiracy to induce teachers to violate provisions of Section 12, Act of 1895.” It is alleged that the men met December 9, 1895, and planned to induce the teachers in violate the law by admitting all children without certificates of vaccination. The following teachers are named: Nathan Long; C. M. Bowerman; Charles Palmer; C. H. Wilbert; Miss Mary Feree; Miss Yost; Miss Ferren; and Miss Gertrude Lebo. It was Miss Lehr who resigned rather than follow the instructions.
Hearings on Saturday
James T. Walters, the County Detective, and George W. Charters, constable of the Second Ward, went this morning to make the arrests. Saturday, at 2 o’clock, is the time set for the hearing. The charges are not made against the school directors as a body, but as individual citizens. Rev. S. A. Garnes, it is alleged, solicited the directors to meet and pass the resolutions. The first suit was brought against these men because their alleged violation was open and defiant. Suit may be brought also against the teachers.
Section 12 of the Act of 1895 is as follows:
“All principals or other persons in charge of schools as aforesaid are hereby required to refuse admission of any child to the schools under their chard or supervision, except upon a certificate signed by a physician setting forth that such child had been successfully vaccinated or that it has previously had smallpox.”
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 8, 1906:
WARRANTS ISSUED AGAINST JACKSON TOWNSHIP BOARD
For Disregarding Compulsory Vaccination Law
DR. DIXON IS ROUSED
Special Agent Ely Detailed to Act With the Detectives
THREATENING LETTER SENT
Warned Dr. Dixon That Violence Will Be Done Him If He Enforces the Law
County Detective James Walters and Constable George Charters of the Second Ward, armed with warrants issued by the State Board of Health, left on the 11:48 train this morning for Jackson Township, where this afternoon they placed under arrest the members of the School Board of that township for violating the State’s vaccination law.
Special Agent M. K. Ely, of the Health Department, appeared before Alderman S. Brady Caveny, of the Second Ward, this morning and swore out warrants for the arrest of the following school directors: Reuben Lentz, John W. Miller, James F. Garverick, James M. Woland, and Rev. Samuel A. Garnes and A. J. Spannuth, both prominent citizens of Jackson Township.
Decided to Disregard Law
The School Board of Jackson Township, which is in the upper end of the county, at its regular December meeting decided that the State vaccination law was all wrong and decided to disregard it. George W. Shoop, secretary of the board, was ordered to inform all of the public school teachers in the township to disregard the law and admit all pupils.
This resolution was in direct defiance to the State law, which under section twelve of the act of Assembly of 1895, reads: “All principals and others in charge of public schools, are required to refuse the admission of any child to the schools except upon the presentation of a certificate signed by a physician showing the the child had undergone a successful vaccination.”
The case will be heard before Alderman Caveny tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. The charge to be preferred against the directors will be conspiracy.
Not only are the directors of the township to blame for the action taken by the board, but the feeling has been so intense against the vaccination law in the township that even the ministers and other prominent men gave their approbation to the resolution.
Minister Prepared Resolution
It is said that the Rev. S. A. Garnes, so far from counselling the observance of the law, is the man who mete with the school board and drew up the resolution ordering the teachers to admit the scholars whether vaccinated or not. The department is determined to no longer stand any such nonsense and will not trifle with those who defy it. The department now has its agents investigating every case reported to it of violation of the vaccination law, and will prosecute, Moses K. Ely having been transferred from the Pure Food Department to the Health Department to conduct the work of investigation.
State Health Commissioner Dixon is in receipt of all kinds of threatening letters from cranks and opponents of the vaccination law, and has placed a particularly vicious epistle in the hands of Attorney Frank M. Eastman, who will set the agents of the United States government to work to discover the author.
The letter tells Dr. Dixon that there is a revolver awaiting to kill him if he persists in enforcing the law, and concludes with ‘Washington made us free, Lincoln freed the slaves, Dr. Dixon made us slaves again.” Singular to relate the letter comes from Derry Church, Dauphin County, and the authorities believe that, owing to the smallness of the population there, it will not be very difficult to catch the party who wrote the letter, and there is a prospect that somebody will serve a term in the penitentiary,
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From the Lykens Standard, March 9, 1906:
PUNISH TEACHERS FOR VIOLATION OF VACCINATION LAW
Health Commissioner Dixon Announces Purpose to Begin Prosecutions
TO CALL DIRECTORS TO ACCOUNT ALSO
Campaign of Education Has Aroused Anti-Vaccinationists to Activity
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS TO BEAT DOWN PREJUDICE
Answered By Flood of Literature From Hostile Sources; Good Work of the Newspapers
Health Commissioner Samuel G. Dixon, acting for the State Department of Health, will immediately prosecute a number of teachers in different parts of the State who have absolutely refused to comply with the vaccination law and who in defiance of his law are admitting unvaccinated children to their schools.
The attorneys for the department have all their evidence in hand for a number of these cases. Dr. Dixon has also arranged to secure evidence in all other cases where the law has been violated.
Will Prosecute Directors, Too
In addition to teachers, proceedings are to be taken against school directors who have conspired to have the law defied.
The commissioner said today that every effort has been made to point out to the teachers their duty under the law. He has carried on a vigorous campaign of education. Thousands of circulars setting forth the true facts in reference to vaccination as a protection against smallpox have been sent out through every county in the State.
Battling With Prejudice
He [Dixon] has written thousands of letters to teachers, school directors and parents personally, endeavoring to overcome the prejudices against vaccinations and to counter-balance the effect of the literature circulated by the anti-vaccinationists. The literature has been poured into Pennsylvania not only from all parts of the United States, but from England. The anti-vacationists of the world seem to have received word of the battle which Dr. Dixon is waging against smallpox by vaccination and have combined to defeat his work.
Newspaper Press a Strong Ally
“I cannot express too strongly,” said the Health Commissioner today, “my appreciation of the support I have had from the public press throughout Pennsylvania in educating the parents of our school children to the necessity of protecting their little ones against smallpox. With very few exceptions the daily and weekly press of the State have editorially and through their news columns spoken in no uncertain tones in behalf of vaccination.
“I have been able to keep in touch with the effect of this newspaper influence and I know that prejudice has been overcome by it; that in communities where the anti-vaccinationists had sown abundant seed, they have failed to reap their harvest because of the splendid fight which the press has made on behalf of public health.”
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 10, 1906:
TESTS VACCINATION LAW
Case Against Jackson Township School Directors and Others Goes to Court
The school directors and other citizens of Jackson Township who were arrested Thursday on the charge of conspiring to defeat the purpose of the compulsory school vaccination law last December 8, by resolving to admit children to the schools without certificates, were each held for court under $200 bail at a hearing this afternoon by S. Brady Caveny, Alderman of the Second Ward.
The charges, brought by Morris K. Ely, special agent of the Department of Health, were against Reuben Lentz, John W. Miller, James F. Garverich and James M. Wolford, school directors, and Samuel A. Garnes, a minister, and A. J. Spannuth, a citizen. The formal charge was “conspiracy to induce teachers to violate provisions of section 12, act of 1895.” It was alleged that the men met December 9, 1905, and planned to induce the teachers to violate the law by admitting all children. The following teachers were named:
Nathan Long; C. M. Bowerman; Charles Palmer; C. B. Wilbert; Miss Mary Ferree; Miss Yost; Miss Ferren; and Miss Gertrude Lehr. Miss Lehr resigned rather than follow the instructions.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 10, 1906:
ANTI-VACCINATION CASE GOES TO COURT
Jackson Township Will Air Its Troubles Before County Tribunal
Alderman S. Brady Caveny this afternoon heard the cases of the School Directors of the Jackson Township Board, why they are charged by the State Health Department with forming a conspiracy against the State’s Compulsory Vaccination Law. The following defendants were at the hearing: School Directors Reuben Lentz, John W. Miller; James F. Garverick, James M. Woland, and Rev. Samuel A. Garnes and A. J. Spanmuth, both prominent citizens of the township.
Secretary George W. Shoop, of the Jackson Township School Board, was present at the hearing and presented the minutes of the December meeting of that body. The minutes proved to be the most important evidence that the prosecutors had gathered and them it was shown that the directors on December 9 ordered all of the township public school teachers to admit all pupils, in open defiance of the State law.
The defendants came to the hearing prepared to make a strenuous defense, and Charles H. Bergner, Esq., this city [Harrisburg], made an eloquent plea in their behalf.
Special Agent M. K. Ely, of the Health Department, represented the State and told how the Directors had deliberately and intentionally conspired against the law and said that the record on the minutes was in itself evidence enough to convict the defendants.
Upon the summary evidence presented, Alderman Caveny held each of the six defendants under $200 bail for court.
It is not probable that the State will prosecute the teachers that obeyed the order issued by the School Board as they strenuously opposed the measure and one of them went so far as to resign before complying with the resolution.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 24, 1906:
TRIAL OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Vaccination Case Will Be Heard Next Week
There will be several days session of court next week and the present petit jurors will serve during the week. Among the cases to be heard is the charge of conspiracy brought again[st] School Directors Reuben Lentz, John Woland, James F. Garverich and William H. Miller, Rev. S. A. Garnes and A. J. Spannuth, of Jackson Township, who, it is alleged, conspired in having the orders of the State Board of Health violated on the vaccination of school children in that township. Tuesday is the time fixed for a hearing of the case.
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The value of vaccination in controlling or eradicating disease was again emphasized by Dr. Dixon. From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 24, 1906:
EDUCATION IN HEALTH MATTERS
What Has Been Accomplished by State Heath Department
TWO DISEASES CONTROLLED
Smallpox and Diphtheria No Longer to Be Dreaded in This State
The education of thew people in health matters is perhaps the foundation stone upon which Health Commissioner Dixon is building his cheers in the work of the new Pennsylvania Department of Health, he feels confident that he has through his campaign of education this winter convinced thousands and thousands of people throughout the State of necessity of vaccination as a preventive against the loathsome disease — smallpox. He is convinced of this he says because at a low estimate several hundred thousand children have been made immune against smallpox by vaccination since September last, and this in the face of a powerful opposition in which the anti-vaccinationists of the world have combined to defeat the Health Commissioner’s efforts. Moreover, from all over the State have been coming encouraging letters that show him that the mass of the people are with him in his fight against smallpox….
The system under which the Health Commissioner is now collecting daily and weekly reports of communicable diseases from all over the State, is now in excellent working order, even though it started so recently….
There were only nine cases of smallpox reported from the entire State during the month of February, six of which were from cities and boroughs, and three from the rural districts. One of these was imported from outside of this country. Speaking of this remarkably new record in the number of new smallpox cases for the month, Health Commissioner Dixon said to-day, “I cannot but feel that the fact that several hundred thousand school children, at a low estimate, have been vaccinated in the past six months and that we have been pushing vaccination earnestly throughout the State, is responsible for cutting down the number of victims that this loathsome disease is able to make in the State. I believe that as our campaign of education goes on and the people come to realize more and more that vaccination is a simple, common sense means of guarding themselves and others from smallpox, we will be able to completely wipe out the disease from the borders of our State..
“In addition to educating our people by means of the literature we are sending out and especially by means of the splendid support the public press of the State is giving to our sanitary work, I hope very shortly to travel through the State with the purpose of meeting the people face to face and talking with them about the methods of preventing and fighting disease. I want the people to understand that the new Department of Health has but one single object in view — their welfare from a health standpoint.”
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Part 4 of a 7-part series of posts on the Jackson Township anti-vaccination case of 1906.
News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.