The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-08
COPELAND AMAZES
CITY'S CLUB WOMEN
"Some Of You Probably Are
Drug Addicts," He Tells
Fashionable Audience.
ONE SPEAKER ASSAILED
DR.. Willis Called "Willie" by
Mother Who Resented Plea
for Immigrants.

"
I, the members of the New York City
federation Of Women's Clubs went away
from, the forty-cighth annual convention
G. that organization yesterday casting
speculative glances at each other, IL
was wholly due TO DR.. Royal s. Copeland,
commissioner OF Health. The Commits
tioner didn't talk more than Ave minutes,
but he found time to throw n good sized
bomb amid the hundreds OF delegates
who filled the ballroom of the Hotel
Aston.
Charming as you are. ladies'" he
told them, Il am not at all sure that
there are no drug addicts among you.
However" he added soothngly. ''being a
drug addict doesn't necessarily mean
that one is a rascal or Il cheat
LADIES'" Mrs. John Francis Yawger,
the outgoing president of the Fed" in
tsrrupted ilf her commanding voice at
Ibis critical moment, when every body
70. that CLASSY stare which Is said to
Indicate the narcotic habit, II have a
painful thing to say in regard to the
election now going on (IIere IL is
proper to state that the contest between
Mrs. Harry Lilly for president and her
ticke; and Mrs. Thomas Slack and her
ticket was 50 close as to cause much
palptation OF hearts.)
Ladies'" resumed Mrs Yawger, with
bow OF apology 10 DIR. Copeland for
interrupting him, Il regret TO say that
word IS brought to me that tickets ar.
being given out and electioneering is
song on right outside that door and
around the polls. Ladies. do you wish
10 break the election laws of the State
Of New York;
100000 "Ficnds' in City.
Then Mrs. Yawger sat down sorrow
fully. and the Health Commissioner took
up his speech, explaining he had meant
10 reflection on the L. of w. c., but
based his diagnosis on his knowledge
Of the great number OF drug takers at
large and the fact that some Of them
moved in the best society.
There are 100000 OF then, in the
city, he declared. There are $500
ietail drug stores in New York. and In
december one store alone sold 5S5
ounces OF narcotics. enough to send 500
Individuals to hell. We have the figures,
ard they are alarming"
DR. Copeland invited George II. Whit
icy. who had just been speaking on the
result OF the Investigations into this
evil by a commission Of which he Is a
member, TO bring his commission to
New York and cooperate with the
Board of Health" He added he wasn't
going to wait for the medical profession
10 fight narcotics.
The Board OF Health Is going TO es-
taoiish drug stations and check I'D the
dishonest Doctors he said.
Then looking into the faces OF club
leaders who had opposed his transfer
'ace Of the division @! Industrial hygiene
rom the bureau Of preventable diseases
. MS own Office he informed them te
ad just been swearing In the biggest
staf any city ever had to fight indus.
rial diseases and that with the won.
derfu ponce power OF the Board OF
Health" he proposed TO see that the
workers OF New York had a fair deal ir
sanitation. He ended by asking tbs
Fed" to let him come some day anc
talk 10 them plainly on social disea SEES
and asked them to do all they could e
combat the drug evil. which might a
any time enter any of their homes.
Busy Day for Women.
All in all. the women passed a bus,
har, and when they adjourned haC
aescd resolutions on most everything
rom keeping German goods out O.
America to screening the lady tickle
choppers in the subway from the draft,
tAat harry them. One Of the tasks tn,
Fed set itself is TO decide the dfferenc.
between decollete women and bar,
backed women.
ri ali
prescribed by Mrs. James Griswo,t
Wentz. president OF the Woman's Re
publican Club, who some weeks ago
after hearing Deputy Police Commits
siOner Ellen OGrady talk at the Cosmo
Joltan Club about the immodesty O.
.oung women, started on a crusad,
against low cut gowns. Mira Went;
las struck some obstacles In her wOT!
hecause. as she told the Fed yester
day:
There is difference between de
so'iote and bare backs"
Mrs. Wentz insists that the sin reall,
goes back To the designers OF gowns
Who she declared. had led fashion "tt
ne extreme limit OF indecency" art
vera showing clothes in the windows
that were having "a most demoralizint
effect upon the youth OF our country"
She introduced a resolution urging tina
fHe FED appoint a committee 10 wires
tie with those designers and make then
see the evil OF their ways. The commit
tee will soon be appointed and will frs
draw the line OF demarcation between
rerm.S- he decollete and demoralizinI
barc-backery. Then 1t will visit the de
s!g1ers.
The resolution was not passed unani
, rrouSly Noes were heard from tn
front seats but n careful canvass o
those seats failed to detect the yearner'
after immodest dress.
ooh no. no! Oh, no, I didn't vote
against the resolution" every delegate
protested.
Doctor starts Rumpus.
Another lively time was had over TIL
speech Of DR.. John Willis Slaughter
who has lived in thirty-fve dineren
countries. and who talked on "Ameri
"aniadton--What Can You Dor Or
Slaughter had some kind words to sa,
of tAe Immigrant, and thought W.
Naln; been very fair TO him, which
didn't 60 well with an assemh!age tina
had been resolving all day against pro
Germanism. The delegates heard tn
speaker politely. but out In the hall IN
had to run a gauntlet Of criticism. ON
woman shook her fist near the doctor
mild. blond face and told him she ha,
son who could click him to a FRAGILE.
John Willis. indeed! she shifted
"Wilie just about Ats you"
Several strong anti-German resolu