The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-03-25
LIQUOR AND DRUGS
ARE DECLARED ALLIES
HEAD OF INVESTIGATING COM
MITTEE SAYS DRY u. S. WILL
NOT INCREASE "FIENDS."

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Drug ad-
diets are increasing in numbers fas-
ter in wet than in dry cities.
Nationwide prohibition, which
becomes effective July /, does not
mean great growth in the use of
narcotic drugs. 1t is true some hard
drinkers will turn to drugs for their
kick" when they cannot longer get
alcoholic liquors.
Those are the statements made
here by Congressman Henry T.
Ralney, of Illinois, chairman of the
committee appointed by the treasury
| department to investigate the use of
narcotic drugs, and by Wayne B.
wheeler, general counsellor of the
Antl-Saloon League of America.
According to Mr. Rainey the ma
tion-wlde survey of the drug situa-
ton, as made by the treasury depart
ment, shows there are l 100000 drug
addlcts in the United States today,
but the greatest increase in the use
OF such narcotics has been in such
wet cities as Cleveland, New York,
Philadelphia and Chicago.
Mr.. Wheeler said the investigations
made by the anti-saloon league have
produced results that square with
these statements made by Mr.. Raj
ney.
Startling Disclosures.
| The report of the committee on
- e L. L
by congress shows clearly the rapid
increase in the use of drugs in the
! large liquor centers. 1t makes the
astounding statement that 60 per
cent. of the addicts in the city of
Baltimore are of draft age and that
there are 100000 addicts in the city
| of New York. 1t says: eve have the
names of 5000 young men between
| the ages of 21 and 81 who are drug
addicts."
During the session of congress
which ended this month steps were
taken to strengthen the anti-narcotic
law in such a way that it will be
much more difficult for addicts to
get morphine and similar drugs. Ev-
| cry person who sells narcotics must
keep a record of the persons to whom
they are sold. This list will be avail
able for the use of the agents of the
! government in curbing the traffic.
"The committee which has been in
vestigating the increase in the num-
Der of drug addicts in the United
States has reached the conclusion"
Mr.. Rainey reported today, chat the
number of addicts in this country
now is at least 100000. The great
er increase in the number of addicts
has occurred in the cities in this land
where there are saloons almost in
every block. The number of addicts
has increased right alongside of the
saloons"
Realizing that nationwide prohibi-
ton will create a greater demand for
patent medicines containing large
amounts of alcohol the Anti-Saloon
League of America and other dry
forces have mapped out a campaign
for legislation to eliminate all patent
medicines that can be drunk for bev-
erage purposes.
Record Medicine Sales.
The campaign will go farther than
requiring abandonment of the sale of
medicines that can be drunk for the
"alcoholic kick" 1t is. proposed the
laws will provide also that a record
be kept Of the sale of all medicines
containing alcohol which cannot be
drunk for beverage purposes.
Such alleged remedies as Bate
mans Drops" said Mr.. Rainey, econ
tain as much as AZ per cent. pure al
cohOl in volume, and 15-cent bottle
of Godfrey's Cordial contains a good
drink of whisky In all territories
which have become dry recently the
increase in the consumption of these
drops has been alarming. We cannot
vote prohibition in the house and at
the same time permit drink of whis-
ky to be sold in these medicines bot
ties.
Il have a letter from a manufac-
turer of fluid extracts in Baltimore.
They manufactured from January l
to August 20 of this year 10000
gallons of Jamaica ginger, lemon and
vanilla flavoring extracts, containing
alcohol These extracts are sold in
dry territory. and the drier the terri
tory the more of these flavoring eX-
tracts are sold. They are sold be-
cause they contain alcohol and are
sold to rum addicts throughout the
land"