Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-16
GOVERNOR FAVORS
ANTIDRUG LAWS
Makes Strong Statement in Re-
gard to Conservation of
Human Life

The first function of the Common
wealth is the conservation of the life
of its people. 1 most heartily yap-
prove of any legislation which will
be effective toward that end"
Governor Brumbaugh in these words
gave his endorsement to the Evening
Ledger's campaign for the passage of
an anti-drug law that will put the
teeth back into the Harrison act, so
far as Pennsylvania is concerned.
L believe that an inebriate or a
person addicted to the use of habit
forming drugs is sick, and that he
should be treated for chat sickness
until he is cured. 1t follows, there
fore, that / am in favor of u properly
equipped institution in which these
victims can be properly treated. So
far as legislation for the restriction
of the sale of drugs of that kind is con-
cerned you cannot quote me too
strongly as being in favor of it. Any
thing that the State can do to pre-
vent these destroyers of body anc
soul from falling into the hands of
boys and girls and men and women
it should do. The more stringent the
bill the more I favor it. Pennsylvania
must not stand idly by while the
health and morals of hundreds of its
citizens are being ruined. l feel very
strongly on this subject and am thor
oughly in accord with the purposes
of those who propose through the
state government to correct the evil"
Governor Brumbaugh as superin-
tendent of the schools of Philadelphia
came into contact with the drug evil
in hundred different ways. His work
brought him in close touch with the
people and frequently he was instru-
mental in causing arrests even under
the very f1imsy laws which prevailed
at that time, directing his efforts
quietly through the police officials in
districts where the traffic in drugs
was particularly noticeable. But the
task. with the regulations that then
prevailed, was next to hopeless.
During the last session of the Legis-
lature he gave considerable attention
to the matter. but at that time the
Harrison act was in full force and he
gave more thought to the cure of ad-
diets than to measures, which did not
then appear necessary. He took up
at one time with Lewis S. Sadler, of
Carlisle, chairman of a commission
on inebriates and drug fiends, re-
newal of that project which had lain
dormant for some years due to the
fact that the Legislature had given
the commission powers but no money
with which to build. Both Sadler and
the Governor were anxious to have
the Legislature pass a bill providing
the necessary funds, but objections
were raised to it by some of the in
fiuential members of the House, who
were firmly of the belief that inebriates
and drug fiends are not permanently
benefited by hospital treatment, not
withstanding that statistics were pro-
duced by friends of the measure to
show that in Massachusetts and
elsewhere such institutions had rend-
cred great service to the community
and had more than paid their way.
This Sadler commission is still in
existence, never having been dis
charged by the State so far as any
body on Capitol Hill apears to know,
but it has no power to act. However,
it may be counted upon to render
valiant service when the proposed
anti-drug legislation comes before the
Legislature next session, as friends of
Chairman Sadler assert that he will
be found ready and anxious to give
any assistance possible.