December 2023 • Nebraskaland 35
conscience of the general public through kindness will be
more eff ective and will do more toward checking the practice
than an 'offi cial command.' As a result of the government's
extreme politeness in affi xing the word 'please' to the notice
there is already a noticeable decrease in the number who
have unintentionally used the post offi ce lobby for a place to
expectorate.
"During the past year the movement to stop the increase
of the 'white plague' [tuberculosis] has assumed gigantic
proportions, but not more so than the increase of the disease.
Realizing the deep inroads the plague is making into the ranks
of the American people, especially those of the poorer classes,
the government has started out to do its share in preventing
its further spread, and the fi rst step in this direction, known
of in Norfolk is the new sign warning the people of the danger
caused by their expectorating on the fl oors.
"Although there is a city ordinance, which provides a fi ne of
from $1 to $10 for any person caught spitting in public places,
halls, etc., it has not been enforced to any great degree, and
the practice has become as common as before the passage of
the ordinance, which in a measure for the time being, checked
it. It has been pointed out that during the past year there has
not been one arrest for violating this ordinance.
"Several of the local physicians, who have interested
themselves in the disease and made a study of its causes and
eff ects, are contemplating petitioning Mayor [John] Friday
to order the chief of police to enforce the ordinance, and by
so doing eliminate to a great extent the exposure of Norfolk
people to the tubercular germs, which breed in great numbers
in the sputum expectorated upon the walks by thoughtless
persons."
N
Visit History Nebraska's website at history.nebraska.gov.
This circa-1880s brass turtle spittoon was covered by a lid
that was opened by stepping on the turtle's head. It was
used in the parlor of Helen Woods Haecker of Lincoln.
HISTORY NEBRASKA 2817-2
By 1940, a spittoon was a joke gift at the Lincoln Telephone
and Telegraph Company. A.B. Gorman's desk is covered with
"birthday sentiments," including a spittoon with a note
attached: "Herein is a lovable chap in a loathsome sort of
way, and So Are You! (from) Norm!"
HISTORY NEBRASKA RG6097-2-320
Norfolk's
post offi ce
and federal
building was
built in 1904,
two years
before the
anti-spitting
campaign.
RG5730-0-67
