The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-02
DR. PARKE WRITES
 ON HEALTH LAWS
Eight Hundred Letters Are Sent to Physicians in Va
 riouS Parts of State


 The following letter relative to the discussion raised several years ago in regard to the health laws and sys- tenn in Alabama was mailed to about 500 doctors throughout the state by Dr. Thomas D. Parke. one of the 7S Jefferson county doctors asking the legislature for a change in the health government The letter fol- lows:
 ''The November 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical as sociation carries a report by State Health Officer Freeman on the prog ress of public helath work in Ohio. This report holds potential interest for every member of the Alabama as- sociation both because the Ohio law figured prominently in the propa- ganda for the adoption of the present Alabama health laws and because it sustains the faith in democracy. It proves the wisdom of the publicly proffered advice of the American Medical association officials to the doctors of Ohio, that they stand hands off and let the people learn that they, and not class, are re- sponsfbie for the public health. It Is a clear and ringing answer to the spacious plea, made to you at that time. Keep politics out of the health systemp
 "The Ohio State Medical associa- ton. free from the disturbing poli- tics incident to running and controll- ing governmental health affairs. can devote Itself to the legitimate sphere of such associations. It's members are not tempted or encouraged by nF .t~9 counter to the forward thought of their day and generation.
 Health boards and health offi- cials are part of the government and responsible to the electorate. Like other states, Ohio provides respon- sible government for public health affairs.
 You and the other members of our state association constitute a state board of health for Alabama. To whom are you, one of the constituent members, responsible? How can you be made responsible? Can you con- jure up any possible way to make it responsible? To whom are the five medical members of your county board of health responsible? They are not responsible or Answerable to -the county or the municipal author ities. To whom, then, are they or can they be made responsible?
 Our state health officer, with all his subordinates, is answerable to and controlled by our Irresponsible municipal health officers, with all 'heir subordinates, are answerable alone to irresponsible county boards of health.
 "Viewed by you, in your citizen ca pacity, does our health system bear the ear marks of responsible or of an irresponsible form of govern ment2
 "President Wilson, on November il, 1918, gave out short message to his fellow citizens: The armistice was signed this morning. Everything for which we fought has been accom- plished. It will be our fortunate duty to assist in the establishment of joint democracy throughout the world At the very time the dominant thought in>the mind of President Wilson was the extension of democracy, the cen tral thought occupying the minds of our officials was how to prevent the extension of democracy in Alabama The extension of democracy and of responsible government to the public health system of Alabama involved the surrender of power and places It involved risking appointment atgsthe hands of a responsible board. The renunciation proved too much for of ficial human nature. A
 AS a natural outcome of this anomalous situation. any member of the state association presuming to advocate democracy and responsible government for the public health af- fairs of the people of Alabama be- came a menace and a disturber. As another natural result came the un- written history of the struggle for re- tention of power and of place before the legislature of 1919.
 "President Wilson showed grasp of basic pri ..ciples when he so repeat edly raised his voice against the in- evitable evils of irresponsible govern ment
 This communication asks nothing of you and suggests nothing to you, save that you do your own individual thinking in the premise. Fraternally yours. THOMAS D. PARKE."