The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-22
DRUGGISTS SIDE OF 1T.
Contest Over the Nomination of
Truman Griffin.

The members of the state board of
pharmacy are quite indignant at a
morning paper which has seen fit to
publish a number Of articles, evident
ly in the interest OF a candidate for
appointment on the board. Thus far
the members of the state association
and board of pharmacy have had little
to say on the subject, but SO much
has been published, a, good deal of
which is very misleading, if not abso-
lutely untrue, that one of them has
determined to place before the public
the facts in the case without en-
Enlistment. The present state phar-
macy law was passed in 1885, and the
following section taken from the law
clearly states how appointments shall
be made:
Section. 5. Immediately upon the passage Of
this act the Minnesota State Pharmaceutical
association shall elect fifteen % reputable
and practicing pharmacists doing business
in the state, from which number the govern
or shall appoint five (5l. The said five o.
pharmacists, duly elected and appointed, shall
constitute the board of pharmacy Of the
state of Minnesota, and shall hold Office as
respectively designated in their appointments
for the term of one, two, three, four and five
years, respectively, as hereinafter provided
and until their successors have been duly
elected and appointed The Minnesota State
Pharmaceutical association shall annually
thereafter elect five o. pharmacists, from
which number the governor of the state shall
appoint one to fill the vacancy annually
curing in said board The term of office
shall be five years. In case Of resignation
or removal from the state of any member Of
said board, or of a vacancy occurring from
any cause, the governor shall fill the va
cancy by appointing a pharmacist from the
names last submitted to a member
CT the board for the remainder of the term.
The law also provides that the board
may elect a secretary who is not a
member of the board, if it 50 desires.
Fr-l-.
retain the services of a competent and
experienced secretary.
The law provides for the examination
into the qualifications of all persons
who desire to practice pharmacy, and
to sell medicines and poisons in the
state forbids the sale of adulterated
drugs and provides for the punish
ment Of offenders. The expenses of
the board are paid from the fees, fines
and penalties collected, and no part of
it is paid out Of the public treasury.
H. G.. Webster has been mem
Der of the board since its organization,
and for a number Of years has been
it's secretary. The Minnesota board of
pharmacy has an excellent reputation
throughout the country, and holders
Of certificates issued by this board have
a good standing wherever they go.
The position this board has taken, and
the progress pharmacy has made in
the last ten years, is due, perhaps, as
much to the efforts of Mr.. Webster as
any other man in the state. The meet
in the state association held at Min
netonka June last as usual selected
five names, from which the governor
was to fill the vacancy occurring In
the board at the end Of the year. AS
the term of Mr. Webster expired with
the year, his name was placed at the
head of this list, and a resolution
unanimously passed asking the COVER
nor to reappoint him. 1t was, Of course,
optional with the governor whether he
appointed him or any other one on
this list.
Tn the selection OF these names the
political faith Of the candidate or the
fact that he may or may not be a mem
Der Of the association, has never been
considered. only his qualifications to
fill the position, and, perhaps, his geo.
graphical location. Not until now has
there been objection to the method
of appointment, and the board and the
association have alweys been in per-
feet harmony with the chief executive
Gov. Clough has, however, ignored the
law and the wishes Of the association
and appointed Truman Griffin, whose
name was not on this list. An attempt
was made at the last annual meeting
to place his name on this list, but 1t
met with no response in the asSOcia-
ton.
The fight is really not one between
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Griffin, nor even
between the governor and the state
pharmaceutical association, but be-
tween the governor and the state leg
islature.
Another misconception that has been
diligently fo5tered is that the board