The New York herald., 1920-01-22
DRUGGISTS HERE REFUSE TO
TAKE OUT WHISKEY LICENSES
FewerThan OneTenth Apply Under Volstead Act and Steps
VIII Be Taken to Establish Government Dis
penSarieS for the Ailng

the city have declared against the sale OF
~hiskey for medicinal purposes was the
declaration yesterday of DR.. Royal S.
Copeland, Health Commissioner DR..
Copeland made the announcement after
dent of the Bronx Pharmaceutical Asso-
citation. who declared that at a meeting
OF his organization last Monday night re-
ports were received from similar organ
izatons in other parts OF the city. and
that as result of those reports the asso-
citation went on record as being against
turning their drug stores into liquor
looms"
'As a result of Mr.. Zagat's statement
to me-" said DR.. Copeland. II have writ
ten to the Treasury Department and in
formed them that it is the consensus Cf
druggists of this city that if physicians
require whisIey for medicinal purposes
they should be permitted to obtain it
; through government agencies established
in this city.
81 was informed that less than ten per
cent Of the druggists of the city have OBJ
tanned licenses from the government to
sell whiskey under the prohibition statute
for medicinal purposes. Those places,
however, can only receive a limited
amount of whiskey under the law
There are many physicians in the city
who feel that the use OF whiskey in pneu-
n1onia cases. particularly, is a necessity
but those druggists of the city who will
not handle the liquor have also decided
that they will not even inform persons
with prescriptions where it can be OBJ
tanned
Il feel that the government should es-
tablsh control OF the distribution of whis-
key for medical purposes through
government agencies If most of the
druggists of the city refuse to handle the
liquor a serious situation confronts those
physicians who believe that whskey in
certain cases is necessary as a stimulant.
Il have promised Mr.. Zagat to inform
him Immediately of the attitude of the
government in it's reply to my letter so
that he can take the matter up with those
druggists who have gone on record as
being against its sale by drug stores"
"Ncw Whiskey" on Sale.
Or. Copeland said Mr.. Zagat informed
him that somebody is dispensing a con-
coction which contains small percentage
OF diluted grain alcohol and which has
the smell of whiskey. He said that while
the sale OF the stuff is illegal. it would
such n preparation, provided they could
get the alcohol.
II think the preparation of the thing
should be stopped" declared DIR. Cope
land "as it undoubtedly will lead to
serious results in the hands of inexpert
dispensers. I expect to receive more in
formation about it, however, now that the
druggists themselves know about it."
Another aspect of the situation devel-
oped when at the office of William II.
Edwards, Collector of Internal Revenue
for this district it was said that only
about 500 applications as yet have been
filed for licenses to sell liquor in New
York for medicinal purposes or under the
other provisions of the act. OF these only
about fifteen per cent of the applications
had been made by retail druggists. and
only few of these have been approved
in Washington. Druggists, Mr.. Edwards
said, will be licensed only after thorough
investigation of their business and of
their personal integrity and trustworth-
ness.
Imposters have been seeking whiskey
and other intoxicants by representing
themselves in Ninth avenue saloons as
Internal Revenue agents sent to inspect
the premises for purposes OF search and
seizure.
James Shevlin, supervising prohibition
agent for the district was informed that
on Tuesday night a party of men who
visited several saloons in Ninth avenue
between Twenty-third and Seventy-fifth
streets According to the complaints,
their method was to enter each place
and. with an assumed air Of authority, to
begin their search for contraband wines
or liquors. In one establishment the bar
tender in charge, when the strangers ar
rived and made their demand, was seen
to close the door Of the fireproof safe
which stood behind the bar oy kicking
II with his foot. He afterward stopped
over and twirled the dial Of the combina-
tion lock.
Locked Safe Battles "AEents."
The man who appeared to be the leader
Of the raiders clustered and threatened
the bartender and demanded that he open
the safe and display its contents. The
bartender declared that nobody could
now do that as the only man who knew
tho combination was "the boss, and the
boss has gone away to be absent TWO
weeks"
So far as Mr. Shevlin learned the raid
ers did not succeed in confiscating any
coutraband liquor. Both he and his chief
outdoor aid James f. McGuinness, SAID
none Of the genuine agents of the Bu-
rcau had been operating in Ninth avenue:
Mr. Shevlin added that all accredited
agcnts Of his force were under instruc-
ton TO be prepared at all times when on
dnty to display their credentials. sa-
IoOnkcepers or anybody else, SAID ne,
should understand that it is their right
10 demand a show of credentials before
submitting TO an invasion and search OF
their rremises. know of no other way
In which they can protect themselves
against fake raiders and other imposters
seeking to blackmail them"
Little or no systematic raiding has been
done by Mr.. Shevlin's force. Its person.
mel has been kept busy to a large extent
guarding the liquor intended for export
but left on piers or lighters and getting
Il securely slowed away in the bonded
warehouses others have had TO be in
the United States courts day after day
as witnesses in cases where arrests were
made under wartime prohibition condi-
tions.
Mr. Shevln admitted he had received
many complaints. practically all of them
anonymous directing his attention 10
spccfic saloons and other establishments
wherein IL was said the prohibition law
was being violated. every one of
these" said he, lis going to be carefully
Investigated. There is some doubt
whether the $50 men, to which number
our special force at present is limited,
will be sufficient TO do the whole work
-.