The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-29

New York November -(Special)-The
greatest battle against contagious disease
ever waged by a city is to be opened on
the evening of November 80 when the
city of New York and the Charity Orsani-
cation society are TO begin six weeks
whrlwind campaign against the whte
plague in Greater New York. the mead
quarters of the fight will be the American
Museum of Natural History, on three
floors of which will be shown the eX-
hibit shown at Washington in connection
with the international tuberculosis con-
eress. More than $4,000 feet of floor ana
wall space will be devoted to showing all
that has been discovered about consulhp-
ton and its prevention and cure py 10
European governments and the United
States. To this exhibit millions OF people
are to be invited. Its doors Will be open
from 10 a. M to II p. m. every week DAY
and from l to p. m. Sundays, SO that
all-the day worker and the night work
er. the family whose only spare time Is
] on Sunday-may come and learn now 10
fight a plague which cost New York g2bs
lives last year and set 10000 people on the
broad white path that leads to desruc-
ton.
But. while the headquarters are at the
museum. the battle lines will spread all
over New York-in every tenement street,
in every place where people congresate or
work in large numbers, and sklrmlsh lines
and sharpshooters will besiege even 1ndl-
vidual blocks and homes in the effort TO
make sure that not single soul OF new
Yorlx's four and a quarter millions VINO
needs education escapes the scientific
training and the facts which are 10 De
used for ammunition.
Everywhere these troops of educators
are to try to make recruits, to add to the
roster of those who not only know the
danger of this plague but who personally
will not take an active part in stamping
it out. workers for the Anti-Tubercu-
losis Party" is to be the cry and, while,
of course. 1t is in no sense a political
campaign, the machinery and methods of
politicians in getting out their votes for
this or that candidate are to be used to
pile up mighty majority of intelligent
opponents to Tubercle Bacillus, a boss
who has cost New York more than any
politician that ever lived, even including
those that in the past have permitted the
water supply to be contaminated by ty-
phoid germs, or have connived to let
milkmen sell rotten milk to the babies.
For Father Knickerbocker has his coat
off and is determined to be rid of this
criminal who has stolen SO many lives
from his human treasury, who has broken
up so many home. who is daily assailng
so many of his citizens. Nearly 10000
deaths year is not to be endured; 10000
cases of consumption, many of them at
large and spreading the disease, cannot
be tolerated. The economic waste of la
Dor through this sickness alone is ire
mendous. The charge upon the hospitals
is enormous. The loss to city of hav-
ing hundreds of its workers suddenly find
that they must cease their activities and
prO n OT fbal ar1 nd
become non-producers and charge either
| upon the state or their relatives mounts
up to millions in a year.
So when the tuberculosis committee of
the Charity Organization society suggest
ed that the Washington exhibit the great
est collection on tuberculosis ever assem-
bled in the world, be brought to New
York for an object lesson, Father Knick-
erbocker said: yes, indeed. It's worth
$4,000 to me. Here's the money. And
my board of health will help"
The Charity Organization society then
saw a few of the private citizens. and
they said: YES it's worth hundreds of
thousands to us as business men of this
/ city. Here's the rest of the money"
And on November 30 the exhibit will be
opened, absolutely free to all.
Prominent scientists whose utterances
have weight with the people said: IT'S
worth something to posterty. Wen come
and lecture and demonstrate"
Ministers said: Its the business of the
| churches. Well preach your doctrines
from the pulpits.'
| Young Mems Christian associations vol
| unteered to give space to it in their bull
| letins; theater program people agreed to
advertise the fight without charge in all
| the theatres.
| Street car companies and big business
houses said Surely; come and educate
| our employees"
Labor unions said: Its a good thing
for the workingman. Sure, we'll push it
along"
| So the committee in charge is now maxi
ing ready to supply printed matter by the
million copies and to mail educatve PAM
| phlets by the half million to New York s