The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-26
Someone Has Blundered

To the Editor of The Age Herald.
 My residence in Birmingham has ex- tended over a period of nearly 20 years, which period has witnessed the real growth and development, physically, fi> nancially and morally, of our great city Birmingham, during that period, has cast off the swaddling clothes of struggling community of much less than 40.00o souls and has become the magnificent city of nearly a quarter of million; has thrown aside here saloons and her segfe- gated or restricted areas. with their at tendant evils, and has become a glorious city of God-fearing, liberty loving, lQp per cent American citizens; has, in her march of progress. relegated the in- iquitous aldermanic system and has at present the best governing board of com mssoners in the whole country.
 Having come to this city from the south's gate city, Atlanta, that town among towns for civic pride, and having been part of, as well as witnessed, the great transformation that Birmingham has undergone, I cannot help but feel much astonishment and even chagrin at what is being told to the world through our own daily press concerning moral conditions supposed to exist in our fine city. Somebody is mistaken There cer- tainly must be some awful blunder, for the conditions mentioned do not exist as stated.
 The world is told that one of our lead ing members of the medical profession, who is specialist in the treatment of venereal diseases. has discovered that Birmingham, of all the cities in the United States, is the only one that sol diers from surrounding cantonments are not allowed to enter; that it has been banned by the camps because of the prevalence of loathsome venereal dis cases This doctor has been authorized, or asked, to name committee of 100 of our citizens who are to meet with him Tuesday evening at the Tutwiler
 For what purpose?
 To investigate, with a view of denying what seems toSbe a vile islander against our city? To find if the quarantine against Birmingham Is based on correct information, or is the result of malice, greed, jealousy, self-exploitat,on. intol- erance?
 No. It scenes that this hundred Bir- ,ningham citizens are to be told to plead guilty for the city to situation which does not exist; to state to the world tha Birmingham is the worst city in the world; and to organize, so as to aid som one tO rSCtlVc tNC vvSoV AA VIII CAASAS lSam's treasury.
 Is this repetition of the historic 8 pieces of silver?
 Does Birmingham need money this badly?
 A city's reputation is part of the cap ital of its citizens. and l suggest that the committee, when 1t has been called to order by its chairman give consid- eration to the following:
 Is there any connection between this reputation that Birmingham is being giv < en. and quondam health officer for thi' county? If so, were the motives unin- fluenced by malice or revenge? Were they entirely unselfish? Was there any collusion? Was there a conspiracy against Birminghams good name? If so. who were the parties thereto?
 I don't know how all the people ot Birmingham look at this matter of list ing their city as the worst in the world but I do know that Atlanta wouldn'g stand for such for one minute.
 Property values are involved as ou cIty's reputation for morality can become absolutely ruined by allowing such state