The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-30
Lively Meeting of Medical Society Last Night Final ly Breaks Up Without
 Definite Action
CHAIR OVERRULED
 IN HIS DECISION
 TO PREVENT VOTE
Anti Harrington Forces, After Show ing Majority of Two Votes, De- cline to Press Resolution
 Asking Health Officers
 Resignation

motion to request Dr. F. E. Har- rington to resign from his office as health officer of Jefferson county anu the municipalities incorporated In 1t resulted in a clash of forces at the weekly meeting of the Jefferson County Medical society last night. One contingent. seeking to uphold the ap- pcintment of Dr. Harrington. charged that the other coterie was after "his scalp"
 The others, backing Dr. George Brown, who introduced the motion. in sisted that the majority of people of Jefferson county were unaiterably op- posed to his continuing in office, that only by his resignation might the health work in this county be con tinued harmOniously, and that he should be asked to resign.
 From the outset such action on the part of the medical society was op- posed by perhaps half of the member ship Various reasons were assigned to show that such action would not be legal The constitution of the so- ciety was cited to show that the so- Cl6Ly SnOulQ IclSI lAiS 1h9ttOA &NSO matica1ly to the board of censors. De- spite this citation, one side, cham pioned by Dr. F. P. Hogan and Dr. H. C. Cre1ly, stated that the majority were at variance with the opinion of the chair and asked that an appeal be taken from his decision. The meeting adjourned without definite action.
 The resolution was lengthy, but the substance of it was that pr. Harring- ton be asked to resign. Immediately, Dr. A w. Burns stated that such ac- tion might be construed as contempt of court, inasmuch as the decision on the Van Hayes quo warranto pro ceedings was pending. pr. Parke stated that such action could not be taken for two reasons. First that the constitution made no such provision second. that the committee of health did not elect him and that he could not be deposed unless charges were made against him.
 TO SHOW SENTIMENT Dr. Ross Snyder stated that the meeting could not take any action. as the constitution provided such matters were automatically referred to the board of censors. Dr. E. w. Welch, state health officer, was called upon and asked the society. in the interests of harmony and good sense, to "get together" pr. E. P. Hogan stated that it was his opinion that the res- olution would not affect the organic policy and that inasmuch as it was merely to show the sentiment of the society, it was his opinion that the resolution would be in order. Dr. Fl. C. Crelly added that 1t was mere ly request and that they would leave the matter entirely to him" (Dr. Harrington) as to whether he would quit. In closing, he stated that he would appeal to the house, against the ruling of the chair.
 After acrimonious debate, spicy re- joinders and a round of discussion had delayed action, the vote was taken, the individual roll called and the motion seemingly lost, but the secretary, Dr.. Gaston Rogers, announced that the meeting had voiced it's approval of the ruling of the president. Dr. Cabot Lull, by count of AZ to 45.
 RECOUNT DEMANDED
 The aanoucing of the vote created a hubbub. Demands for a recount fol- lowed. Tellers were stationed at the board and the vote verified. When the recount had been taken. 1t was an- nounced that the meeting had decided to override the chair by a majority of two. the count having shifted to 46 to AS.
 Then when it seemed that those seeking to ask pr. Harrington to re- sign were in the majority, cries of T move we adjourn" were persistent among their strength and the meeting broke up without any definite action. However, the leaders of the movement to ask the resignation of Dr. Harring- ten explained that they merely wanted to show the sentiment of the medical society. This. they maintained, was that the naming of Dr. Harrington as county health officer was not the will of the whole society: that it would he best for the interest of harmony in Jefferson county for him to resign: and that the action of the committee of health did not have the full in- dorsement of the memb bership
 During the heated discussion, re- peated efforts to show disfavor by crying, question, question:" and audi ble murmurs were made. Dr. Thomas when he stated
 DR. PARKE SPEAKS
 "If you can tell me of any good
 reason why you want Dr. Har-
 rington to resign. other than that
 ne IS n CaunOAlcs ! VIII &0 Wltn you
 and ask him to resign as county
 health officer"
 Following in the train of this declar- ation, Dr. c. c. Gewin answered with the statement that religion did not enter into the question. We cannot get co. operation with Dr. Harrington in office, T he said. That is the reason we want him to resign" Dr. George Brown avowed that he had always been opposed to ths naming of Dr. Harrington inasmuch as he was against Infringing a man in here from a foreign country" This slip caused the meeting to break out into laughter but he explained that he meant from an other place in the United States as ht felt that there was a doctor in Jefferson county who could capably fill that posi- tion.
 At this juncture Dr. Cabot Lull stated that inasmuch as section w of article ! of the society constitution read "To tn. board of censors shall be referred with out discussion D all proposed amend ments to the constitutions (2) all motions resolutions or inquiries of whatever na ture affecting the organic policy or wei fare of the society,"" that he saw no es cape from ruling that the resolution wa. out of order and that he would rule such Immediately the motion to adjourn which had been lost several times pre- viously by narrow margin. was put ant suffered the same fate. Finally the chail