The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-22
N IRMINGHAM may well

n IRMINGHAM may we'll be D proud of the efficiency of its health department and the good that has been accomplished is the result chiefly of the ripe experience, large vision and constructive energy of Dr. R. M. Cunningham, who was placed Tn charge a few years ago. The salary which the city commission felt able to offer was small for a pro- fessional man of Dr. Cunningham's earning capacity, but he accepted the position from a sense of civic duty and entered upon his labors with characteristic enthusiasm. He re- organized and built up the department and soon had it in excellent working condition.
 When, more than a year ago, the city found it necessary to reduce sal aries and cut down expenses generally Dr. Cunningham rendered his resigna- tion, but the commission induced him to reconsider and continue his bene- ficent services.
 The health officer has again ten dered his resignation, and this time with such insistence upon its accept ance that his wishes will be complied with. While the public will miss Dr. Cunningham the city can, as he him. self points out, better dispense with his services now than it could have done before he had developed his plans and made his system effective. In other words, Dr. Cunningham sug- gests that the duties of the health officer and the public school medical director can be combined now without detriment to either branch of hygienic activity.
 Dr. Cunningham was a potential factor in Alabama's political life when he served as legislator, lieutenant gov ernor and governor, and as a citizen of the Birmingham district he has been one of its strongest upbuilders He has we'll earned retirement from office, but with his ingrained civic spirit he can always be depended upon to respond to any demand for the public veal.
 All honor to men of Dr. Cunning hams humane and patriotic type! ~ ENERAL FUNSTON is asking NJ the war department to rush tht National Guard to the Mexican bor- der, and the guardsmen are eager tc be rushed.
 The governors of states have re- sponded to the Presidents call witf alacrity and the citizen soldiery is making all possible haste.
 A hundred thousand guardsmen will be mobilized under General Funston's command within the next two or three weeks and practically all the regulars on duty in continental America will then be available for service in Mex. ico, if necessary.
 When the United States was get ting ready for the Spanish-Americar war congressman were besieged by politicians who clamored for commis. sions in the volunteer army. Those who couldn't start out as general of ficers or colonels were willing tC serve their country as lieutenant colo nels, majors or even captains. Ane scores of men who had no military eX perience but who had political "pull' received coveted appointments.
 The military situation today is en tirely different from that of 1898. The National Guard is well officered, ane between that efficient organization and the regular army all the grades above second lieutenant will be sup piled by thoroughly trained men; ant even the vacancies in the grade o, lieutenant will be filled in most cases from a waiting list of applicant known to be qualified for army life. "HE "uplift" in prison life con
 tinues unabated. Already tn man behind the bars, in grea many cases, has more opportunitie sor the improvement of his mind an'