The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-26
WARN AGAINST THE CONTROL OF HEALTH
 BY REACT|ONAR|ES
Prominent Physicians Make Statement on Imperative Need for Change in
 Alabama System

Dr. Cunningham Wilson, Dr. E. P
 Riggs and pr. Thomas D. Parke have
 written statement in which they ask whether reactionaries or reconstruc- tionlsts are to control Alabama's pub
 lie health matters in future, They point out the need for modern. responsible public health system for Alabama" in The following:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Every thinking person somewhat ac- duainted with history recognized that So soon as this war should be over the forces of reaction would busy them selves to prevent the adoption of the progressive measures emblazoned on our war banners as the objectives of the great struggle.
 In other words. that as soon as the conflict with the external forces of reaction ended, the conflict with the internal forces of reaction would begin. Before the war had ended, even, reac- tionary forces in our health system were busy fortifying themselves against the inevitable era of recon struction to follow the close of the war. These forces counted on the fact that legislature after legislature had been induced to continue the state health system, organized and conceived in and for the year 1875, and that this next legislature would be, like it's pre- decessors, easily managed in the old familiar way.
 Democracy and responsible govern ment are good talking points, in their view, for stirring enthusiasm during wars, but practical politics is another and very different proposition for those who would hold on to privilege
  to a recent unfortunate ex- perience in New York city as it was diverted from scores of successful cx- amples of state health systems respon- s1ble to the people or their representa- tlves. Not word was said about the experts from all over the nation-al1 of whom are members of the American Medical ssociation-recommen a state health system based on appoin- tive boards responsible to the people. pr. Hemingway in his book, American Public Health Protection" 1916 edi- ton, says: An antiquated and per haps illegal method has long been in effect in Alabama According to the statutes, the county medical society of each county is the board of health and the state medical society is the state board of health If the system has cen | 1t all efficient it is because of the | -aithfulness of pr. Sanders, who has ong been the state health officer"
 Dr. Hemingway evidently thinks our | system illegal because state and county | md municipal funds are paid over to | officials chosen and controlled by ire ] 'ponsible, perpetuating boards. Our | avs sternly prohibit turning over the | peoples money to sectarian, irresponsi- | ,le boards for educational and charitable | Why should it be worse to urn over public money for charitable | purposes than for public health purposes? Is not the prohibition of irresponsible boards expending the peoples money 'ased on the theory that responsible off ials can give better results? Is not his the very essence of democracy? We | an call our officials to account when our chool boards and library boards fail to | i've results. When health administra- ion fails under our system, to whom do ge turn, whom hold to account?
 The situation in Ala bama seems to dis lose that reactionists and reconstruc- ionists are agreed; that minimum of l50,000 should be expended by the state oyernment for health protection that omething is wrong with our present sys- em; that all the state systems giving otable results at this time, are respon- ible to the people; that authoritative yriters and the nation wide body of ex- erts gathered together by the American 1edical association have recommended ublicly and openly, state health system esponsible to the people, Such being the indisputable facts, there an be only one of two explanations of ne opposition of the present system to ne passage of bill for a modern, re- ponsible public health system for Ala anna. Either they desire a continuance privilege and power or they are afraid the intelligence and patriotism of the legislature. It is either power r it is a direct slap at the inferior luipment of Alabama legislators as ,mpared with those of other states. They are counting, of course, on the ok of interest in public health affairs mong our people, from whom the leg lators comeback of interest directly ,sulting from delegation of all control public health affairs, from 1875 to this pod day. to a privileged class of citi- ms
 A bill containing provisions for the in- allation of a modern health system Id carrying appropriations for adminis- ation of the system, will be offered Z the reconstructionists to the legisla- re for it's consideration.
 CUNNINGHAM WILSON,
 E. P. RIGGS,
 THOMAS D. PARKE.