The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-04-23

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drug store is a rare thing, becaus
they cannot afford to pay the 81, so,
revenue tax and acquire the reputa
tion of being whiskey drug store
The far greater majority of tn,
druggists are reputable men and dt
not care to risk their reputation
Because of this rarity of the liquor
drug store the public has been un
! der the impression that drug stores
could not sell intoxicants as a medi
cine. The above statement applies
also, to the greater number of drug
gists in the larger cities. Second
explains, also, the liquor drug store
which is little better than a sa.
loon, which is to be found in in.
creasing numbers in our cities. The
liquor drug store was practically un,
known in the cities until the Foul
Mile Law was enforced, for there
was no sense in the so-called drug.
SioI paying pAJooV lCFouu0 lOI liz
privilege of selling upon prescrip.
tion when the open saloon was, up.
on the right hand and the left, do.
ing business in open defiance of the
Four Mile Law, but when the sa-
looms were closed then a few dis
reputable druggists saw their oppor.
tunity. Some liquor dealers also
converted their saloons into so-called
drug stores and went to selling in
toxicating liquors upon prescription
having an arrangement with more or
less reputable, or disreputable, ply
sicians to write their prescriptions
for them. In the larger cities sew
eral of these drug stores can secure
a volume of liquor business which
justifies them in paying the $1,500
revenue tax.
The design of the Drug Store Bill
is to put such restrictions upon the
writing of prescriptions by physi-
clan, veterinary surgeon, ETC., (who
are now under no restriction what
ever) as to- prevent the indiscrimi-
nate writing of prescriptions for in
toxicating liquors to be used for
medicinal purposes, and second, to
put such restriction upon the filing
of prescriptions as will make it i'm
possible for liquor drug stores to pay
the $500 revenue and do profit
able business. 1t is designed that
the combination Of restriction and
revenue tax shall drive the liquor
drug store out Of existence.
From the above statement it ought
TO be clearly evident that the work.
ng of the Drug Store Bill will be,
1ot to permit the opening of liquor
lrug stores in any community Of the
State, (for that can now be done if
hey so desire,) but to throw such
'estrictions around the liquor drug
sists, who are now selling upon pre-
that they will not be able
o sell a sufficient quantity to pay
he revenue tax.
I am very frank to say, that from
ny standpoint, this is not an ideal
aw. My ideal would be a prohib-
tory law which would stop the sale
# intoxicating liquors for medicinal
for l am very clearly of
he opinion that the medicinal world
an do very we'll without it, but pub
ic sentiment has not reached the
deal stage, and so 1 am compelled
o modify my ideals to fit what is
racticable and obtainable under
resent conditions.
If the Druggist Bill" should
rove to be bad measure it will
My be so, because of an amendment
oisted upon the original bill by it's
pponents. Said amendment was
dopted in the heat of the fight for
s passage and was not thoroughly
by the friends of the bill.
his amendment is as follows:
Nothing in this Act shall apply
} medicines that conform to the
God and Drug Act of June 80,
906."
Very cordially yours,
j. D. McALISTER, Supt.