Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-16

Continued from Page one.)
lessened portion of dope each day, was
most advisable.
John w. Cochran, % years old. who said
he had taken dope one year. and who was
carried into the county jail six weeks ago.
was the first man questioned. He had
gained many pounds In weight - &c he
had been shut up without any dope, and
declared he had no desire for it now. He
is In excellent physical condition, he said
Cochran was so sure he would be able
to do without dope that several members
asked the county officials to send him to
the county hospital, which was done
Cochran declared he was, anxious to 90
to Texas where, he said. his mother lived
The committee atterward, however.
learned from another man that those
fiends who desired to continue the habit
were planning to go to Juarez, Mexico.
in case they were unable to get dope on
account OF the new federal law, which
somewhat shock their faith in the pros
pective success of their desire to assist
Cochran.
Efforts Are In Vain.
John Washington, an intelligent, we'll
educated man, 81 years old. who had been
using dope five years, told of vain efforts
to reform himself
Il have tried many times to make a
man of myself" he said. 81 have climbed
down sixty-foot pipe to escape from
the Lincoln sanitarium; have escaped
from the county hospital and from other
sanitariums. l could not help 1t,
Now that l have been without dope
for forty-five days my brain is clear and
L believe that / can do without it.
The best. sway TO treat a victim of the
drug habit is to cut it off entirely and
lock him up. If he is allowed little each
day it does him no good and keeps the
craving alive"
Barney Kemmerlng, 45 years old, VIC
tim of the drug habit for thirty years,
according to his statement, exhibited
arms and legs the skin of which was a
fabric of scars left by the needle" Pm
real dope fiend these others are only
fakes" he said, with a sad smile. for,
he declared, he realized that he was not
a man.
Causes Suffering.
Barney declared he did ont believe in
! cutting off dope fiend's entire supply
of drugs. insisting that 1t caused too
much suffering.
Washington's account of dope fiends
and his suggestions concerning him were
considered most reliable and valuable by
the committee. Washington has used and
sold dope in many cities of the United
| States.
peculiar coincidence was that each
| of the three men declared they had first
felt the effects Of dope through medical
treatment following illness or injury by
accident. All three testified that their
physical condition had been greatly i'm
| proved by their stay in jail
II was the final opinion of the COM
mittee that principal assistance which
could be rendered drug victims was the
rigid enforcement of laws forbidding sale
OF dope. Steps will be taken to cooperate
with the federal government in an effort
particularly to stop ''peddling' or boot
legging" OF dope by irresponsible indi-
viduals, since, 1t was believed. drug stores
probably will be deferred from selling II
by fear Of government prosecution.
The members of the conference will
watch particularly the future careers OF
Cochran. Washington and Kemmerling
o. whom they made particular requests
that they cease the dope habit and who
Immediately or within the next few days
will be allowed to recuperate theiI
strength at the county hospital