Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-25
A BIRMINGHAM DELEGATION
Headed by Acting Mayor Pearce and the
Board Of Health
AND THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER
Meet tho Mayor and Citizens to Discuss
The Subject of Raising the Existing
Quarantine-No Result Obtained,
Due to- Lack of Courtesy.

Birmingham acting mayor, her alder
men, city attorney, and several of her
most prominent preservers of the public
health, with man who stands by virtue
of his office at the head of the medical
profession in Alabama were grossly in
suited at a public meeting at Pratt City
hall last night. While present at mest-
ing as invited guests they were scoffed
and jerred at and it seemed for awhile
that ugly trouble was inevitable.
Instead of being treated with courtesy
due invited guests they were charged
with being paid emissaries of business
men, when to the contrary they were So
licited to make the visit to Pratt City
and explain the smallpox situation.
The trouble came when the meeting ad-
journed.
Members of the audience gathered in
groups excitedly discussing the meeting
Without warning there was a disturbance
in one corner of the hall and as the Bir-
mingham contingent filed down the steps
two of the audience were having a lively
tilt. The participants were unknown
and after one of the angry parties had
hung a chair over his opponents head
a policeman appeared and quelled the
NiSOiQCi. "A ulSCdoSlOll VI lLe IlelllS VI
the quarantine system precipitated the
row.
WON'T BE RAISED.
If the meeting last night indicated any,
think the citizens Of Birmingham and
her thriving suburb will have to run the
gauntlet of the quarantine officers to
visit each other for some days to come
AT the invitation of the mayor and city
attorney of Pratt City, Acting Mayor
Pearce, City Attorney Lowe, Aldermen
McCartin and Gray, Drs. Saunders,
state health officer; Sholl, Woodson, Bar
clay and Tally, visited that place last
night to explain the situation in a public
meeting.
WRONG IMPRESSION.
Z In some mann'sr the people got the i1ea
that birmingham had sent delegation
there to eoerce the people into doing
something which would be detrimental
to their physical interests. Such was not
the case and all during the meeting VIXEN
insults were beirt5 hurled at the Birming-
ham gentlemen. they conducted them
selves in perfectly calm and dignified
manner.
The better class of citizens regretted
th.s turn of affairs and SO EXPRESSED
themselves during ard after the meeting.
DIR. SAUNDERS SPEAKS.
The meeting was opened with City At
torney Joseph Salisbury as chairman
Probably $50 people were present, all be-
ing men. 1t was apparent at a glance
that the audience was not pleased at the
situation. and it did not take a second
look to determine that several in the
crowd were eager for any charactec OF
excitement. This was demonstrated
mere conclusively as the meeting pro-
gressed.
DR.. Saunders, the state health officer,
was the first speaker. He explained in
telligently the splendid public health sys-
tsm of Alabama enjoys and paid
tribute to DIR. Cochran, who
was so instrumental in founding
the system. The speaker dwelt
ON how each private physician assisted in
Stamping out any contagio disease by
working in Gloss touch with the county
and state boards of health. This prefaeed
a few remarks on the doctors experience
with smallpox during the past three
months. 1.-The three weapoLs," said he,
with which to fight the disease are: is
ola)tion of the sick, vaccination of the
well and disinfection of all premises
where the disease has existed. Quaran-
tine is the, most expensive and the least
effective means of dealing with it, as it
exists here. This is 50 from the fact that
the cases are amorg negroes, who, when
they want to go anywhere, tramp
through the country. Under these cJn-
ditions quarantine system would neces-
state sentinel every one hundred yards
aroI1pd vour town"
The doctor then appea!ed to every man,
woman ard child to take the precaution
of being vaccinated.
MIR. PEARCE INTERRUPTED.
Acting Mayor PeaEce was introduced
and explained thu situa ton, saying there
was no smallpox in Birmingham, for all
suspects had been removed 20 Red noun
tain There were, he stated, seventes n
cases of smallpox ard eighteen suspected
1--WE see no reason he continued why
Pratt City should quarantine against
Birmng ham any more than we Should
quaranti against you"
At this juncture Mr.. Sullivan APPEAR
ed upon tae scere. He was not John L.,
hut from a fistic standpoint, the man
with one more fight l;fJ in him" would
not be 'in it, If this Pratt City ramesake
was given option of using his tongue
He proved persistent all during the meet
ing and was the buzz saw" around
which the whole thing seemed 30 hinge.
He asked as si.rater what the Biining-
ham crowd was there for, intima ting that
1t was from mercer'ary motive. ''T
never saw you here bef.,re," h Numbered
n THE acting mayor stated .hat he was
no stranger to Pratt City. and that he
was not here now from such stand
point.
Sullivan was deteynined to do the talk
ing, and again Interrupted. Said he:
."You are not here for our benefit You
all came down here In a special dummy
paid for by the Comemrcial club"
MR.. LOWE ON HIS METAL.
City Attorney Lowe sprung to his feat
in q second and characte izrd the asser-
Aion as "a lie" In a deliberate manner