The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-23

nAO wv AIAiaAh III WIS NA1s AuA ~ EAg-
urbs, thousands of whom Fare working
men or those with limited means" we
appealed to your excelleney not to al
low state authority to inf1iet inexcusa-
you propose is a camp of detention
near the city" 1t is impracticable and
inhuman to detain thousands in an in
fected place, to await the slow estab
then to compel great numbers of peo-
pie to stay in it for days before they
may leave for PLACES of safety open to
them elsewhere in the state. Even If
advisable, 1T is impossible to establish
a camp in any reasonable time to ac-
commodate the great numbers of peo-
pie who are liable to infection if they
remain, and who now would go to other
parts of the state unframed.
1t is to be anticipated that the fever
will break out and spread in such a camp
and the herding OF large numbers of peo-
pie therein for detention for ten days Is
merely to collect helpless victims to
await the pleasure of tbs pestilence,
Change of shelter, food, bedding, lack of
fire and exposure to the weather at this
season of the year would speedily make
disease. If there were numbers of old
men, delicate women and young children
in camp as must be the case, such
situation in times of disorder and ex-
citemsnt incident to epidemics is far
more horrible than awaiting the approach
of the disease at home.
Camps of detention are useful and
just,fable only for those who cannot
safely go anywhere else. Instead of 81
curing safety to people at distance,
large camps of detention" are stand
ing menace to health. Experience
abundantly proves that 1t is far safer as
we'll as more humane, not to deprive
those who wish to leave of the oppor-
tive, take charge of him, and pass him
through localities where the fever is
likely to spread to the nearest convenient
place of safety than to absolutely forbid
his going or try to force him to remain.
When such measures are resorted to
those who wish to avoid them make use
of disguise, subterfuge and strateg=m;
and they will go and remain in places
where they are not wanted and where
they are sources of danger, because that
is Often necessary to reach the desired
haven. If infected he is liable to be
stricken with the disease and his fears
induce him to conceal both his identity
and his exposure to the disease. The
authorities are thus ignorant both of
his presence and of his ailment until 1t
is too late to prevent the spread of the
disease. The sane person, if treated as
a human being and not as a beast, and
permitted to go to place of safety, Will
put himself in the hands of the authori-
ties, and keep out of places where he is
not wanted.
If stricken with the disease before
reaching. the place of safety, it VIII be
known and he can be easily isolated at
hospital or camp without peril to the
locality. If we trace, in any of the great
epidemics the history of towns or places
situated on the main route to a place of
safety of fugitives from disease who
have been forbidden to go through or
forced into camp of detention for days,
it shows that in nine cases out of ten
the disease has been SPREAD in the very
places it was sought to guard by the
very means taken to protect them.
The regulation which so wrongs us is
indefenEible ON the only grounds on
which it is sought to Justify 1.-THE pro-
lection of the health Of other portions
of the stale. THE cowardly and the self
ish are found everywhere. and we are
well aware as Informed by your excel
Iency, that the citizens of some towns
who receive refugees "are protesting
against IT. but the acts of these men
are not in the open and surely III is not
by such prlsflanimous standards that the
governor of a great stabe should weigh
his duty, when it's discharge affects
thousands of his countrymen who are in
misfortune and dislyress.
We are advised that no meeting of the
state board has ever been held to con-
slider the advisabiHiy of your regulation,
and that the first knowledge many of
them had of Ut was the publication of
your order to the state examiner to leave
Ala ana because he had not been absent
ten days from an infected place. We fur
Their affirm on direct information that
large majority of the board consider the
regulation ,nnIwise and that it is unnec-
essary ito continue It's enforcement. We
have plainly presented, as becomes free
men and the situation, the considerations
which moved THE people here to urge
your exoellency to rescind the regula-
'tion fraught with the fate Of so many
of your helpless countrymen. Seventy
thousand souls, in our two chief cities,