Milford chronicle., 1920-03-26
LEADER OF DRYS
ATTACKS DOCTORS
DR.. PRETTYMAN, LEADER OF THE DRYS,
SCENTS PHYSICIANS CONNECTION
WITH LIQUOR INTERESTS.
PRODDED BY MINISTER'S
NO COMPROMISE SLOGAN ADOPTED AT
SECRET SESSION OF METHODIST
EPISCOPAL PREACHERS.

A sandstorm over the Delaware
desert is the probable result of the
move on the part of the doctors of
New Castle county to modify stringen-
cies of the Klair, Loose and other acts
which make the State one of the dry
est spots in the American Sahara.
This was indicated Monday night
when the dry forces sounder the toe
sin and announced unequivOcal war
fare against any attempt on the part
of the physicians to "tamper" with
present restrictions. Rev. E. c. Pretty
man, superintendent of the Anti-Sa-
loon League, stated that body, sup
ported by many ministers, would fight
tooth and nail to the last ditch and
without compromise against any
change.
The doctors, represented by COM
mittee of the New Castle County Med
ical Society appointed to consider
ways and means, came out with an
announcement that efforts at compro-
mise were "all off" and their position
is now for entire repeal of all exist
ing State liquor statutes and the sub
stitution of the provisions of the ma
tional Volstead Act, made to apply To-
cally.
The doctors state they will take no
further action until it is established
whether the present special session of
the Legislature will be prepared to
consider any matters in additions to
suffrage In the event legislative ac-
tion may be taken, a bill has already
been prepared by the physicians
which will be presented and every eff (
fort made to have it passed. 1t pro (
vides, in effect for the substitution of .
all the provisions of the Volstead act I
for existing laws.
This gives the privilege of the use
of alcohol for medicinal and sacra-
mental use. Under strict regulations
doctors may prescribe liquor for pa
tients, making out three copies of
the prescription on Government
blanks. One copy goes to the drug
gist, the doctor retains one and the
third is filed by the Government
Opposed by Preachers
The Anti-Saloon forces. led by Doc
or Prettyman, had previously sug-
yested a compromise law, drawn up
by w. T. Boyce, federal enforcement
1fficer for Delaware. A special secret
session of the NJ. E. Preachers Asso-
,iatiOn was held and this evidence of
on the part of the league
severely condemned, so much so that
Doctor Prettyman was constrained to
,hange mis- attitude and become Sc
Terely uncomprOmising
At any rate, a conference between
he physicians druggists, Doctor
'rettyman and Mr.. Boyce was held
nd ended in a deadlock.
The doctors objected that the !
mendment prepared by Mr. Boyce, l
id not remove enough of the Obiec- d
ionable features One of these is a
ond of $500 required by the State I
n druggists who dispense liquor, in {
dditiOn to the $1,000 bond required by f
he government for the same purpose. u
'ffer of the "drys" to waive this was C
lade, but numerous other features S
-ere protested, particularly the pro-
isiOn which bars a physician who
ses liquor himself from prescribing Il
=, which doctors look on as an insult Il
was also objected that in parts of
ne State, even druggists are pre- e
ented from carrying in stock more o
IAN one quart of liquor.
That Doctor Prettyman was panied g
y the attitude of the doctors was b
lown last night when he stated that n
e scented a dark object moving in Il
le woodpile and had become convinc-
that the doctors were hand-in-hand a
18th the liquor forces. ts
Il don't like to say the doctors are IA
nked with the liquor traffic" he de-
ared, "but it. is the only impression m
can gather have come to the con-, b'
usi6n that their object is not to be al
lowed to dispense liquor, but to re- es
eal the present laws and bring a re- lie
rn of earlier conditions They show FIX
eir connection by the employment
Philip L. Garrett attorney for the H.
Iuor interests. We made fair Of dl
r and they refused it. Now we will to
sht. There will be no amendments Is
the Klair law" he
The fear that is actuating the An pc
Saloon forces, as explained by Doc pl
r Prettyman. is that the Volstead fr
t is not sufficiently permanent. It III
ay be altered by national enactment en-
d then the State laws would have to n
changed to comply with it. Where II
, it is felt that the State laws, strin- VIZ
MT and binding, are here where the su
lti-Saloon League can keep its eagle pr
e on them and prevent any back
ding on the part of legislators.