The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-13
Refers TO Hygiene Work Done
in Cuba
SAYS CANAL WILL Be BUILT
And an Important Part of the Work
Will Be Done BY Sanitary
Men and Medical
Experts.

velt delivered a notable address this af-
ternoon before the Associated Physici, i,
of Long Island. He discussed J. ,SS *
course of his speech the relation SO ss
clans sustain with the people Co Il
munities in which they r'.Soo the
work to be done by thu o oS experts
in connection with . 81 fuction of
the Panama canal that despite
all difficulties on Il .nmus and here
in the United States she canal would be
success. He referred to achievements
Of the sanitary engineers, who cleaned
the cities of Cuba for the first time in
four hundred years. and closed by pay
ing a tribute to the services of Gen.
Leonard Wood. whose career as mill
tary officer, he said, was houted by some
critics because he had once been doc
tor.
F. A majority of the four hundred physi-
clans reached Oyster Bay on a special
train at oclock.
Wears Broad Panama Hat.
Attired in suit of rough linen and
wearing broad Panama hat, the Presi-
dent arrived at the oyster Bay High
school, where the meeting was held. at
S:15 p. m. AS he alighted from his car
riage he was greeted by DIR. IL. Beck
man de LaTour of Brooklyn and DIR.
Fowler of Oyster Bay, members of the
entertainment committee.
Needed Only Permission.
He was escorted by them to the assem-
bly, hall where he was accorded cor
dial reception by the physicians, all
standing. AT the conclusion of the Pres
ident's address, and at Mr.. Rooseveits
own suggestion, an informal reception
was held, each member of the associa-
tion being presented to the President
After the President had retired from
the hail. the association unanimously
elected him and General Wood honorary
members of the society. The President .
address was in part as follows:
Mr.. President, Members of the Associa-
ton, Friends and Neghbors:
Il needed no invitation to come before
you today All | needed was permission.
As soon as learned that this associa-
ton was to meet in our village, | felt
that l must take advantage of the op-
portunity to say word of greeting to
you in person
"Of course it Is most needless to say
there is not and cannot be any laymen
in the profession, the members of which
occupy such a dual position, each side
of which is of such Importance, for the
doctor has on the one hand to be the
most thoroughly educated man in applied
science than there is in the country and
on the other hand as every layman
knows and doubtless many lawman in the
circle OF acquaintances of each of you
would gladly testify, the doctor gradually
becomes the closest friends to more diff
ferent people than would be possible in
any other profession.
ba AZ. fo fe,r
class scientific man has claim upon
the gratitude of all the country. The
man who is the first-class neighbor, and
is always called in in time of trouble by
his neighbors has an equal claim upon
society at large. But the doctor has
both claims. Yet in addition to filling
both these functions he may fill many
ether functions. He may have served in
the civil war; he may have rendered the
greatest possible service to the commu-
nifty along a dozen different lines Take
for instance just what is being done in
one of the great works of this country at
the present time-digging the Panama
canal That is a work that only a big
nation could undertake, or that big ma
ton could do. and it is a WORK for all
mankind. And the condition precedent
upon success in tina work is having the
proper type of medical work as a pre-
liminary.
Work Is Being Admirably Done.
"That is the first condition upon the
meeting on Which depends our success
In solving the engineering and adminis-
trative problems of the work itself. l am
happy to say that the work Is being
admirably done, and I am happy to have
this chance of saying it. Now and then
some alarmist report will come from
Panama. Just a couple of weeks go there
seemed to be succession of people coming
up from Panama, each one of whom had
some sort of tale to tell You will always
find in any battle, even II 1t Is vic
tcrious battle. that in the rear you meet
a number of gentlemen who are glad they
are not at the front who, If they have un-
fortunately gotten to the front, have come
away and who justify their absence from
the front by telling of how everything has
gone wrong there.
Now the people who flee from Panama
win carry up here just such stories as
the people who flee from the fore front
of a battle carry to the rear with them.
The people to which this country owes and
will owe so much. are those who will
stay down there and do not talk. but do
their work and do 1t well. OF course In
doing a great work like that in the trop-
les, in a region which until this govern
ment took hold of 1t was accounted to
be a region exceptionally unhealthy, we
are going to nave trouble. nave SOfIe yer
low fever. have a good deal Of malarial
fever. and suffer more from the latter
than from the yellow fever, although
we hear nothing but talk about it, We
have every now and then troubles as
regards hygiene. just as we will have
trouble in the engineering problems. just
as occasionally we will have troubles IN
the administrative work. Whenever one
of those troubles comes there will be
large number of excellent but timid men
who will at once say what an awful
calamity 1t is. and express the deepest
sorrow and concern: and be rather In
clined to the belief that the whole thing
is failure. 1t will not be a failure 1t
will be a success. and 1t will be sue
cess because we shall treat every little
check not as a reason for abandoning
the work. but as a reason for altering
and bettering our plans. so as to make
It possible that that particular check shall
happen again.
Great Work In Cuba.
sWhaf fs bejpp done IN % uovno is J,,,t