The Detroit times., 1915-01-14
TO REVIVELOCAL
OPTION BILL and
"POISON LABEL"
New York PrOhibitionists To Re
introduce Measures Defeated
Last Year
THIRTY ASSEMBLYMEN
PLEDGED, is CLAIM
Would Have Each Bottle, Jug OF
Demijohn Labeled With Dis
concerting Legend

ALBANY, N. Y. Jan. 1S.-The pro
hibition forces OF the state OF New
York will anchor their hopes TO TWO
bills in the new legislature. The
Poison label bill which was defeat
ed last year, will be reintroduced by
Assemblyman Elmer Il. Ferry, Allie
gany county. The Anti-Saloon league
viii introduce again the optional pro-
hibition bill, which provides local op-
ton on the liquor question IN cities
OF $4,000 population and In counties
which do not have cities or towns Oh
more than 10000 population. William
III. Anderson, state superintendent Oh
the Anti-Saloon league OF New YORK,
says that 80 assemblymen are pledged
TO the optional prohibition bill IN ad'
vance. Last year, he says, 1t dld not
have a single member or the assem-
bly, In favor of it before the legisla'
ture convened.
The poison label" bill In substan
tally the same as the one introduced
last year except that IL omrts the
skull and crossbones emblem. 1t pro-
vides that special label must be
on each bottle, jug or other container
OF alcoholic liquor used for beverages,
and that the label must have printed
in red the words This preparation
contains alcohol, which is a habit
forming, irritant, narcotic poison"
These words under the section OF the
bill, which is numbered 1743 B, shall
be placed Immediately following the
name or o.her description OF such
F, compound or preparation. 1t IL also
4. 10. ,sklp md
poison" shall be displayed in heavy
face capitals in all advertisements Of
alcoholic beverages Every person
violating the provisions OF the act
shall be deemed guilty OF a misde-
meanor. and uron conviction shall for
such orarsA be fined not less than
So nor more than $50 OF imprisoned
not less shan FIVE days nor more
than so days or both at the discretion
OF the court
When asked recently why the pro-
vision for the skull and crossbones
emblem is omitted from the new bill
State Supt. Adamson of the Anti-Sa-
loon league OF New York, said: 1--WE
have omitted the provision for the
skull and crossbones emblem for two
reasons:
'First-We recognize the validity
OF the objection that its use on alco-
holic beverages would lessen It's warn
ing effect on qulck-acting Jisons.
"Second-We were assured or pow.
erful backing II we left out that par
ucular feature
"For example, the managing board
OF the temperance society of the
Methodist Episcopal church, with
power to represent on temperance
matters the 100000 Methodist Epis-
copal communicates and the 10000
900 of the total Methodist constitu-
ency. officially indorsed the poison
. label proposition at the annual meet
ing few weeks ago on that condition,
and In addition authorized it's intro
duction in congress as part of the
Methodist temperance program.
THE law requires a manufactures
To tell how much alcohol is in tonics,
washes and lotions that people put
on their hair, face and hands. What
good reason can there be for not com.
pelling a statement of how much is
in what people take into their stom-
achs? Manufacturers have TO declare
as little as one-tenth of one per cent
OF benzoate OF soda in tomato catsup
Why not make them tell about five
per cent OF alcohol in beer?"
'The skull and crossbones PROPOSE
tion last winter was regarded as n
joke I'm some quarters, but II intro
duced the proposition and gave us the
range. The fact that we bring the
main proposition back this year
with such marvellously increased
support is the best evidence of our
positive intention 10 push it as part
" our educational work until the bill
S passed or the sale OF liquor pro-
libited entirely"
AS soon as the poison label" bill
introduced in the New York legis-
ature, which will be, Mr.. Anderson
Iays, at the earliest possible date. a
rational propaganda on the same Is
ue will be started. For the national
light, Mr.. Anderson says, the Anti
saloon, league has secured tre-
= nendous backing