The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-28

Resolved, That it is the sense and
opinion of the Jefferson County Medi-
cal society that all members of county
medical societies in good standing should
be made members of the state medical
association with all the rights to vote on
all questions and hold office in the state
medical association.
Resolved, That the delegates of this
society are hereby instructed TO favor
such measures as may be necessary to
promote the provisions OF this resolution
and the purpose of the preamble herein
set forth.
Seconded and unanimously carried
One of the prominent members of the
profession, himself member of the state
association, declared that it is virtually
a wheel within wheel, the state health
officer being the hub. Incidentally, he
said although the organization was per-
fected 40 years ago, there have been but
two occupants of the office of state health
officer.
Surrounding him are 10 physicians.
known as the state board of censors. each
elected for five years and usually sue
ceeding themselves, due to the fact, he
said, that the association is a close cor
poration which gives those once in office
absolute control. outside of these cen
sors are 100 life councillors, who, 1t was
alleged, named their own successors in
office. Outside of these. said one OF the
physicians. who favors a reorganization,
there are 25O0 members of the association
who are mere ornaments so far as active
participation in deliberations is concerned,
1t was claimed by the speaker that
the men outside of those referred to above
have no right to vote and are even de-
MED the privilege of the floor, except
on scientific matters; have no voice in
the management of affairs and are in
eligible to hold office. unless they are
called within the magic circle. The or
namental members have no right. he said,
to offer a resolution without it being
first referred to the board OF censors,
which, he declared to be the wheel inn
mediately surrounding the state health
officer
But in order that the hidious mon
atrosity and political octopus. the A.
NJ. ~ may be more fully revealed 10
the scornful gaze of our liberty loN-
Ing people. / will here reproduce, cap
ton and all. the article taken from
the front page OF that well known
Tribune and palladium of the rights of
the people-the Mobile Tribune. and
If the citizens of Birmingham will
while reading the article substitute the
rame of their own city for that OF
Mobile they will make it as appropri-
ate to conditions here as in the city
OF Mobile
Alabnma's Medical Octopus Blot Upon
the state and Disgrace to Its Abettors
The developments at the annual con-
vention of the Medical association o.
the state of Alabama indicate that the
political ramifications of that honor
able body are far greater in every way
than generally supposed by the pub
lie That the doctors trust" has been
an irln pf oh in, OF
Tor many years no one will attempt to
deny; the fact that 1t could dictate
terms in connection with the law by
virtue OF which Mobile secured the
commission form of government was,
in itself sufficient to put the people OF
the state on guard had the rank and
file considered guard necessary from
the vaccinations of men whose very
position gives them the confidence OF
the people to an almost unlimited de-
gree
There have been rumblings of dis
content at times, especially in connec-
ton with city and county health af-
f.urs and while there has been no di-
rect fight upon the appointees of the
local medical associa tion. probably ap-
pointed under orders from those ~ the
inside higher up" a feeling las long
existed that the doctors, as body.
should be stripped of their influence
and authority in the ordinary affairs of
life. They have built up an organiza-
ton. "wheel within a wheel" as one
physician termed It, that is In a po-
sltion to defy the people of the state
CT Alabama and force the state legis-
lature to do its bidding. The threat was
openly made during the session al
which the Mobile commission govern
ment bill was under consideration. that
the bill would be defeated unless the
terms of the doctors relative to ap-
pointees to public office were complied
With. And the people of this city were
forced to compromise, else commission
government would have been defeated.
Those who pirate of the glories of the
LAND of the free and the home of the
brave" especially in the state of Ala
bdma, should be forced to wear a muz-
zle until such time as the people, aris-
ing in their might. force the pill roll
ers to get out of politics and keep
cut.
There can be no objection to a So
ciety of physicians, either local or
sta te-wide scope but there Is objec-
tion to a ring that attempts to DOM
mate; an organization. supposedly for
the benefit Of the medical profession.
that holds star chamber sessions and
has the effrontery to say you must"
to the people of the great state of Ala
bama in connection with purely polit-
ica1 affairs.
The time has come when a check
should be put upon the arrogance OF
the physicians OF Alabama as a body.
Individually they may be estma BILE
men; as an organization they are a
wart upon the face of the polite body.
Narrow to a degree, wound about with
the red tape OF what they are pleased
to call ethics" these men who should
stand for all that is great and good
have. in measure. stultified them
selyes by adopting the methods of the
ward heeler With practically unlim-
tied opportunities for doing good they
lave sewed themselves up into an or