Omaha daily bee., 1917-11-30
%8ee5;nm
-&Ar91N
In Defense of the Druggist

In Defense OF the Druggist.
Omaha, Nov. 29.-To the Editor of
The Bee: Hush, little drug store,
don't you cry; you'll become saloon
bye and bye."-Quoted from letter of
Attorney General Reed.
Such brilliant little couplet as the
above one might expect to emanate
from a booze mill where weak minds
were congregated and ribaldry run
riot, but scarcely should we antici-
pate such an implied and gratuitous
insult to the registered pharmacists
of the state, as the above would ap-
pear to be, to be promulgated and
given publicity to by so distinguished
and eminent an individual as the at
torney general of our state.
AS one Of the members Of the emf
nent and respectable profession Of
pharmacy and at present engaged in
the business, were interrogated as to
whether or not appreciated the ques-
tionable humor in the "poesy" I would
be compelled to maintain my dignity
and reply that it didn't excite my resi-
bilities particle and that didn't even
consider it amusing.
resent with all the vehemence and
force within me and all that the words
may imply the imputation that the
druggists as class are booze peddlers.
There are exceptions, Of course, the
same as there are Ambulance chas-
ers" devotees of the police court and
despoilers Of the estates of widows
and orphans among the members of
the legal fraternity, but, thank God,
they are the exception.
Now let's cut out the "camoufiage"
and undignified stuff and get down to
tho n1aStinn nt iSCno and nnnfno
selves to that, as the eminent gentle
man should have done
There is great big element Of doubt
contained in the verbiage of the law
and it certainly is in favor of the con-
tention of the druggists that they are
privileged under the provisions Of the
law to purchase and use in the COM
pounding and preparation Of tine
lures, extracts. essences, etc, all phar-
maceutical and absolutely nonbeverage
products, without qualifying to the
state, and providing a surety bond at
an expense of $50, which is of itself
prohibitive.
Section Is of the law provides for
the sale by the wholesale druggist to
the retailer of spirits for such COM
pounding and preparation by the lat
ter as follows:
"Any wholesale druggist may sell
to any registered pharmacist owning
or conducting a retail drug store or
actually employed in retail drug
treated according to some formula per-
mitted by the United States commits |
sioner of internal revenue so as to rem
der 1t unfit to be used as beverage"
Section ~ distinctly says: "That
the provisions of this act shall not be
construed to apply to the preparation,
sale, distribution, giving away, dis |
pensing or possession of any alcoholic |
compound, preparation or remedy con-
tanning drugs or medicines which do |
not contain more alcohol than is nec-
essary for the legitimate purpose Of !
extraction, solution or preservation and !
which contain drugs whether singly |
or in compatible combination, In suffi- !
cient quantities to so medicate such
compound, preparation or remedy as
to make them medicinal preparations
or compounds and to render such |
compound, preparation or remedy un-
fit for use as beverage, ETC."
This very clearly indicates that it
was not the intent Of the lawmakers to
tail pharmacist which he could not
bear and compel him to pay tribute to
the wholesaler to the extent of from
100 to 500 per cent in the shape OF an
exorbitant profit which has been es-
tablished since it became bruited
abroad, with Interior motive, no doubt,
that the retailer was not privileged to
have in his possession or use alcohol
or spirits for any purpose whatsoever.
We believe and contend that with
a government permit we are entitled
under the state law to purchase and
use one or two gallons per month (cer-
tainly not an excessive quantity, as
our necessities may require, in the use
only in compromising the preparations
enumerated (all wholly
without incurring any
whatever to the state.
DRUGGIST.