The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-30

, should We not ask for his record of cases and for an opportunity to examine his proposition in the light of the history of the world2 In the language of Descartes: We must not pass judgment on any sub Ject Which we do not clearly and distinct " underestimate for even if such judg- Heht Is correct. 1t can only be so by ac- cldent not having solid ground on which to support itself Me should always look Tor the solid ground of economic truth.
 In recent times we have been urged to make radical changes in our public pol lcies affecting the industries and com merce of our country-especial in those aHecting it's transportation system which may be likened to the circulatory sys- tenn of the human body We have been told that this system was seriously out or order and that the radical treatment proposed was necessary to the public health No human institution is perfect. and it cannot be denied that abuses had grown up in connection with our trans portation system, but they were sueh as called for the local application of reg ulative remedies. rather than a destruc- tive treatment enfeeblng the entire sys- tenn.
 Best Policies For All.
 l have no hesitation in stating my con- vction that the health of the body pol- tic Is so intimately connected with the utdllu Di It's GlTGuldlBTA SA stem that those regulative policies which, when examined closely as to their ultimate effects. are found to be best for the public will be those which are best for the railways and under which capital will be encour- aged to flow into railway construction in sufficient volume to insure the building up of an adequate and efficient system.
 The development and maintenance of an adequate and efficient transportation system by water and rail is so import ant to the continued prosperity of our country that I believe it to be the duty of each of us to contribute to the best of his ability to the creation of an in- telligent public understanding of the eco- homie principles governing railway de- velopment and operation. l know of no class of men who can contribute more to this result than can the members of your profession. The physician is every where a man of intelligence and educa- ton. His whole training teaches him to study so closely the relations between cause and effect that l believe the con- clusion of the average physician as to any proposition to which he has devoted se- rious study may be accepted with more confidence than that of the average man in other callings. The railway surgeon occupies a peculiarly favorable position in this respect. for he is in touch with the practical working of the transporta- ton system and at the same time is in intimate daily contact with the general public. He can advance the interests of both by bringing them closer together and advancing the fundamental economic truth that the material prosperity of any community is measured by the capacity of its carriers to transport its surplus products to market and to bring 1t the surplus products of other communities.
 Tribute To Surqeons.
 I cannot close without word of tribute to the noble profession of which the Surgeons of the Southern Railway com pany are worthy representatives. The physician and surgeon, devoting his life to the cure of disease and the relief of suffering, embodies the highest human virtues. Responding to calls at all hours of the day and night, his life is con stant sacrifice of his personal comfort and often of his individual health for the good of humanity. With a devotion to his profession and its high code of ethics seldom equaled by men in other callings his first thought is always to do the utmost in his power for the relief of those fellow-beings to whom ne IS called to minister. We build monuments to commemorate the courage and achlVe- ments of our soldiers who endanger their lives for their country, but l know ot few monuments to physicians who devote their lives to humanity, calmly and qulet- ly going about their duties, in the race of dangers which are often as great as those of the battlefield. Your profession is essentially a progressive one. EVery physician. from his entrance to the med ical college until the day of his death is A student Each year is marked by new conquests over disease and by the successful performance of surglcal oper- ations previously believed to have been impossible You are gradually adding to the average length of human life, ana IL is your high aim to attain such mas terv over the ills that flesh is her to that we may go through life to ripe old age unafraid flor the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the SICK ness that destroyeth in the noon-day'
 Last Nights Session.
 After a barbecue and a trolley ride the nhvsicians assembled last night and lis- tened to the following papers, one es- peciaIly remarkable being that or k. V. Rrawlev of Salisbury, N. C., on 'Color Blindness: Can It Be Remeded? lie de- clared that in making recent examinatlohs he found a man almost totally color piiiu' informed him that he would lose HIS position but that the man actually, Wlth inc aid of his wife, learned the colors, and on an examination four weeks later was able to understand every color With ont q mistake and was given back ms po- sition. He told of several other educated patients and declared that in his opinion although the patient may never really see the color as it naturally is, he adopts code of his own and can become prae- tically perfect
 Yesterday morning an address was de- liyered before the convention by James Weatherly of Birmingham on "Empioy- CTS Liability for Personal Injuries to Employes," and last night the address or Judge Hamilton McWhorter of Athens, Ga, on Corporation Litigation was deep and able effort. He presented the railroad side of the legal conflict whicn has assumed such proportions in the south.
 Delegates Elected.
 Greensboro, N. C., April 29-The Seventh district republican convention at Asheboro today named Theodore E. Me-