The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-08

believe .that it would be dangerous or fatal for a buzzard to fly over our burg.
 Even now, three weeks after the complete breakdown of Prussian au- tocracy. 1t appears to me that our city fathers are running,~as before said, so near the line of demarkation separat- ing democracy from autocracy, that they are dangerously near if, indeed, they have not already crossed over the line, by preparing way for the es- tablishment of the most autocratic, un- reasonable. tyrannical and abominable condition that they could possibly bring upon our people by their actions Just recently I have had placed In my hands copy of an ordinance. or set of ordinances inspired, I suppose, by, the aforesaid medical men to whom had been delegated the duty of exercising efforts and measures for the cleaning up, cleaning out, fumigating and otherwise correcting and improving the morals of our people, and all ex- isting malicious Infections, which is the worst that l have ever read. A set of ordinances which, to my mind, i5 the compound auintessence of the most exact exegesis of pure. unalloyed downright folly and gilt-edged im- practicable budget of mischievous nor- sense that was eyer promulgated by any botly of men of common sense since the world was made. This recently is sued ordinance. in my opinion, ana also the opinion of some of our best lawyers is> as thoroughly unconstitu~ tional as itNis unjust, and as unjust, undemocraticsanda as far from practica- bility of curing the troubles for which it was intended as Hades' flames arc distant from the flowing fountains O. Paradise. But space will not permit 4 1ft.n self nor to properly comment upon, or criticize same I will say, however. that 1t is the most wonderfully con stfucted document that I have ever, heard of for the conniyance of mis- chievous evils
 l. It is vicious in that 1t calls for the violation of the doctors hypocra- tean oath, to keep and hold inviolate the condolences which every patieA may confide to him.
 g. It violates the inherent right of every man and woman to conceal anything that might be detrimental to their personal welfare, their character and good name.
 3. It makes it possible for any doctor to whom patient first applies, to prae- tice extorton in his charges upon that patient, while he remains his patient, and to blackmail and scandalize him if he decides to quit and go to another doctor.
 4 1t makes 1t equally possible for any, one of those into whose hands the com pulsory report is made to expose, to scandal or-to leyy blackmail if such a one be disposed to do so.
 g. It is calculated to deter patients af- flicted with such social disease te re, fran from going to any doctor at all for treatment, and thus be constrained to continue to carry his trouble untreated uu pd hV the hlrllnpSS of the law, become a thousand times more dangerous and likely to spread his infection than would be the case if he should go to a doctor and feel assured that he would not be exposed to public reproduction and ridicule.
 6. It is pernicious in that it is capable of causing separations and breaking up of families, and very likely to cause murder and suicide.
 I. In some features it is in contraven-' tion of the constitutional rights granted by the state to doctors, and it is an in hibition of every mans right to protect his own character and personal welfare, even against his own sins, misfortunes or accidents.
 s. 1t permits the arrest and personal examination of anyone on mere suspicion and is, therefore, calculated to cause in- nocent persons to ssuffer such personal
 
 in a free country.
 3. It provides for the arrest and intern Rent for an indeterminate period of time, of any unfortunate man or woman. and is in contravention of the law, which inhibits the confinement in prison of any person except as a punishment for crime.
 10, It lays the predicate for the estab lishment of slave-pens, not different in characterize that class of Illegal prisons against which public opinion is now so clamoring for their come plete suppression.
 But, 1 will not go further in pointing out the vicious features of this munict- pal ordinance so recently eUacted nor is 1t my intention or purpose to criticize and condemn our city commissioners for the enactment of this mischievous and wholly indefensble ordinance. l am ac- quainted with each member of the conn., mission and feel confident that their action in the matter must have been perpstrated in moment of temporary aberration of mind. and Was, beyond doubt, executed at the behest of some one or more influences having a selfish purpose to subserve. or a spite to grat- ify and furthermore, 1 feel confident after cursory review of the ordinance nE~t no one man, nor all of the l.len of the entire Commission could have orig mated and concocted so smucb intoler- ance. unwarranted viciousness and com pound essence of yillainy as compose the