The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-02
FLORIDA OPPOSED
 m IEPER COLONY

| WnShlnRf0n. government boon goes begging as far as Florida and possibly many other states of the Union are concerned. The boon is leper colnny
 At first blush, one would think it nat uraI that state should decline such a gift. even though in it's construction more than s2,ooo,oo0 would be expended, and m it's rpkeep, another considerable sum throughout all the years. However, tAe government says the disinclination of the states is ridiculous It points out what 1t claims to be a fact that Florida, for in- stance, with leper colony established' would not be in danger from infection to such an extent as it is today, with lepefs roa ming at will through it's domain Su1 Florida couldn't see the point, anc posl- lively refused to receive the gift when it appeared as If the government would locate the plant off the coast of Florida despite the opposition of Florida, another secession was imminent.
 ] Alabama. if it desires, might obtain the plant. If it is given to Alabama 1t wouid be located off the coast somewhere m proximity of Mobile But for fear that l Alabama would view the situation as | Florida view it no member of the Ala bama delea gtion will broacn the suolsct {, to the health department.
 MIGHT DETER TOURISTS
 
 | ida prepared to fight if the government I insis.ed on locating the plant near it's coast was it's fear that the existence or | the colony would deter winter tourists | from making their annual visit to thal | state. And at the same time one or the most populous -leper colonies under the care of the United States government IS within the Jurisdiction of California, state playing more extensively to visitors than Florida. As against F1orida's fear | that the location of a colony on one or | it's keys wouIi jeopardize the health or | the people of the state, the government points tc the fact that on- of it's colonies ! for iepers is located in New York
 1 And in this connection 1t is commonly known that Louisiana will accept the colony if the government will locate II linear the coast of that state. The govern ment prefers Flordia. but as Florida IS | obdurate in it's opposition-and as Ala bama has signifed no desire to possess I the iretitution-in all probability the boon will 20 to Louisiana.
 1 Politics was played to certain exten' in the Florida situation-or at any rate politics infected itself into the situation The subject of Ieper colony for Florida has lon gbeen in the minds of the public health officials. Tn the very begnnig 3citizeus of Florida protested. Senator l Fletcher, Senator Trammell and Repre- sentative Smithwick of the Pensacola dis trict carried the opposition of Florida te the proper authorities, and the proper au thorities without committing themselves seemingly agreed that the subject for ths time being should be ''put to sleep
 CATTS ENTERS PROTEST
 Tn view of no formal pronouncemcn' that in consideration of the finer sensi bilities of Florida the lepers home woulc be located elsewhere, Governor Catts. whe is A candidate for the Senate, evidently
 thought it necessary that he come t'
 Washington He came with a protest anc
 was given a long and careful hearing bS 1.-the health authorities. At the conclusion of the hearing the health authorities. al customary, said nothing other than tha they would give the representation or th' government careful consideration.
 | As soon as Governor Catts returned tt the everglades, Senator Fletcher agaii got busy He was most persistent. He dit not demand an abandonment of th' ] scheme. for demands would have serve' little purpose. The government own Florida property and could have utilIzei lit irrespective e. the desire of Florida
 But be urged the government out of con sideration for tho desires of Florida. no + to "infI,ct'' Florida with lepers' home.
 Finally the government capitulated | Carter Glass, secretary of the treasur5'
 which department has Jurisdiction ove Ileper institutions. turned down the recon
 mendat;on that the colony be located il
 Florida. He wrote Senator Fletcher ( that effect. And thus the chaptet closes.
 If Alabama wants the 100000 institu
 ton, it had better get busy.