The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-13
Florida Politics Enters
 Leprosy Controversy
Friends of Fletcher and Catts Attempt Make Capital Out of Florida's Protest Against Location of
 Colony Cedar Keys
By HIGH ". ROBERTS

Washington. October 12.-(Specsal) While it is said that politics makes strange bed fellows. it was perhaps beyond the thought horizon of the coin CT of that adage that politics would eventually fraternize with leprosy. And yet. if indications are believable that very thing has happened or is about 10 happen.
 The Age-Herald has already pub lished the fact that the United States government. alarmed because lepers are wont to roam at large throughout the country. conceived the idea of coli onizing these afflicted individuals at Cedar Reyes. Fla. where the govern ment owns a reservation far removed from the mainland of the state. It was the purpose of the government to expend in the construction of build ings and sanitariums and for equip ment s2.235,oo0.
 When first the news was published, the people of Florida, forgetf.tl of the fact that the colony plan, even .@ough instituted within their state would render danger of conragion less acute than at the present time. raised their voices in mighty protest. It was then the impelling duty of Senator Fletch- CT. faced with a bitter campaign for re election, to cause the government to abandon it's intention. Senator F1etch- CT tried, but not entirely with suc- cess. The matter still hangs fire. Gen. Rupert Blue promises to render de- cisiop Monday.
 In the meantime. Governor Catts a native of Alabama. incidentally. laid his plans to visit Washington Catts, who, following his emigration to Flor ida. was elected governor on the anti Catholic issue, is now a candidate for the Senate and despite the opposition of the press. a strong candidate, in the opinion of Floridians who bring oral testimony The governor. declaring his impatience over the inability of Sena- tor Fletcher to achieve any results relative to the '1eperA issue. exclaimed that he would go to Washington and see, himself. that results are achieved
 And tomorrow, something will hap pen which will strongly effect the sen atorial campaign. Should General Blue announce the abandonment on the part of the government of it's plan to colonize Cedar Reyes with iepers, the people. in all probability will give credit to the force and de- termination of Governor Catts. The governor will have accomplished. they will believe. in one day what Senator Fletcher failed to accomplish in many days And, of course, the decision might be reached as a result of Fletch- CTS protests-without the visit of she governor having any bearing whatso- ever on the case
 On the other hand. should the gov ernment announce that it will not abandon it's original plans. the peo- pie will be compelled to smile For Catts, despite his boasts. himself no stronger than Fletcher. Why not re- tain Fletcher on the job7" the Ffori- dians would ask themselves. And that very thing they would probably do. The Age-Heralds correspondent be- lieves that the health administration Is aware of the effeer it's decision will have on Florida politics. It is be- 1ieved that the health department would not do anything to offend Fletcher or alienate his support There fore is in order the prediction that the lepers will be colonized at Cedar Reyes. with the result that Catts and Fletcher will run as candidates neith- CT of whom could force the government to act in accordance. with F1orida's S bidding.