The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-23
COMPLAIN NOT OF THE LAW
But Of Its SO-Called UnWaFFanted ReSu-
IatiOnS in This Instance.
DETENTION CAMPS ARE DANGEROUS
Claim That Heretofore All Persons Have Been
Allowed TO Go to Any Place Which
Was Willing to Re-
ceye Them.

Special to The Age-Herali:
dispatch was sent by the citizens conn
mitted to Gov. Joseph F. Johnston at
Nashville:
Dear Sir:-Your answer to the commit
tee through the press has been seen.
Montgomery only asks what it has al
ways accorded to others, whatever the
risk to it, the right of transit for refu-
gees to healthy regions in the state.
The regulations of which we complain
are not contained in any statute, it is
the pure creation of executive will, I'M
der law authorizing him to enforce
regulations mot inconsistent with the
constitution of the state or of the United
States and the laws thereof" The law
making power neither enacted
nor suggested it. The present is the
first instance in the history of the state
where anything of the kind has been
mooted or attempted and it is strange
that there has been no executive to
recommend the repeal or modification of
the statute"
We complain not of the law itself
which permits only reasonable measures,
but of an unwarranted regulation. 1t
would seem to matter little what recon-
mendations former executives made, but
IL they be of moment your recollection
will be refreshed by reference to the
journals of 1S90-'91 and 1928, which
contain all the recommendations made
since the act giving the governor quar-
antine power. In one of these mes
sages for local quarantine were charac-
terized: "As reproaeh to humanity
and civilization" and the executive ad-
vised the general assembly, while not add
vocating Investing state officers with
power to determine against the wishes
of local authorities, what PERSONS who
had been exposed should stop within
L
est wisdom to give some state board eff
fective authority to determine the rules
and regulations under which those who
have been exposed to infection might
pass through localities maintaining quar-
antne to seek refuge and safety in To-
calities where their presence would not
endanger the public health"
In the only other state quarantine at
tempted before the present-that against
portions of Florida in 1S94-the then ex
ecutive, with the hearty approval of the
great DR.. Jerome Cochrane, then state
health officer, promptly ordered that the
citizens of Florida who desired to do
So be permitted to take refuge in Ala
bama in healthy places whose people
were willing to receive them. No utter
ances of any former executive nor the
practice under any former state quar-
antine gives support to the present reg
ulation.
Your excellency Is the first governor
in America, with its history of over a
century of fearful epidemics, to proclaim
in time of misfortune and distress, the
citizens of a state should not be shell
tered anywhere within the borders. We
cordially agree with your sexcellency
that there should be no favoritism or
discrimination in enforcing the law" If
what was ordered as to Mobile and
Flomaton was right and proper it should
be adhered to elsewhere. If, on the con-
trary, it was wrong, delay to change it
for consistency would be trifing and I'M
worthy, when the lives and happiness of
so many people are in danger.
The situation of Mobile, on the borders
of neighboring state which does not
debar its own or the citizens of other
states from refuge within its borders,
at the hands of those who are willing
to receive them, preventing the rule
from becoming practical question to
its people, save in a few Instances.
Flomaton is small village near the
state line of Florida, and its Inhabitants
easily find refuge and shelter in the
county and across the border. We would
not ask for our community what we
would not demand for others, but If they
have failed to press for their rights.