Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-31
PHYSICIANS HOLD
STATEMENTS MADE
TO Be INSULTING
Resent Contents Of Communica-
ton Signed by AntiSaloon
League Of Delaware.
VIEWS ON KLAIR LAW

The Legislative Comm ittee of the New
Castle County Medical Society today
made public the following statement in
replv to a circular sent through the mail,
the heading of which is, wheeler Riddles
Doctors Bill" The statement follows:
"The physicians of Delaware received
through the mail this morning com
munication signed by the Ant-Saloon
League of Delaware, ,purportlng 10 be the
statement of Wayne b. Wheeler their
national attorney The statements made
in this communication have already been
published in the local newspapers, under
glaring headlines, accusing the doctors OF
being liquor lobbyists and, through
ignorance or deliberate intent, fighting
not their own battles, but that of the
hauor traffic II ends by saying We
are sure every reputable doctor Will
resent this
1--WE wish 10 answer and say that every
reputable doctor regards this as q direct
insult, and if such tactics are continued
there is no doubt but that soon the in
fluence and support Of the medical pro-
fession will be exerted against the sources
from which these accusations arise.
1--WE wish to state briefly and precisely
lust what we are asking for and we are
perfectly willing to let the public, which
consists of our patients, be the judges Of
whether our demands are Just, reasonable
and consistent.
First of all, the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution OF
the State Of Delaware both very clearly
state that the use Of spirituous liquors
shall not be prohibited for either sacTa-
mental or medicinal purposes. The pass
ing of the klair law takes from us this
right and privilege granted under the
Constitution of the United States and
that Of the State of Delaware
"A large majority of the medical pro-
fession have always allied themselves
with the dry forces and exercised our
suffrage and influence in that direction
but VIC had no intention IN sn dong OF
having constitutional eright takn
from us or Of being deprived Of using a
medicine which we believe in many
instances in our practice Of invaluable
service in the prevention, relief and cure
of disease.
eve voted dry with the intent Of hav-
ing the corner saloon abolished and the
legalized traffic in alcoholic liquor as q
beverage prohibited, measures which
we highly commend. but not for the
taking away Of the constitutional right
, and privilege of having at our command
measures which we consider very i'm
portant and efficient in our daily work OF
relieving the sick and suffering.
Now. one word as to the offer 10 amend
the Klair law making 1t possible 10 pre-
scribe alcohol and its derivatives Tor
medicinal purposes. 1t was theoretical
but not practical A few changes IN that
law made il possible for the druggists to
carry in stock n supply OF splrltuOus liquor
for dispensing upon physicians prescrip-
tions, but another law on the statue books
loose forbids any person. whether
druggist or other, to have IN their posses
sion more than one quart. The National
| Prohibition Act, for which we are contend
ing. gives the doctor the privilege of pre-
scribing one pint every ten days.
Under this regulation any druggist could
not have in his stock more than sufh-
cient to fill two prescriptions, thus making
II impractical, In that no druggist would
qualify by putting up the necessary
| $1,000 bond and paying the necessary
license fee for selling same.
This we accertained by a careful In.
ouirv of the druggists. Now, what are
we asking for? Simply the re-enactment ol
the national prohibition act by the State
of Delaware, known as the Nolstead act
together with the suspension OF Sucn laws
as conflict with its provisions, together
with the entire police powers of the State
TO assist in its enforcement.
I'VE consider that the adoption of tht
Eighteenth Amendment, together with
the rigid Volstead act, carrying with il
an appropriation of two million dollar.
for its enforcement, amply protects The
best interestsof prohibi tion and that there
| in no need for state laws which directly
| conflict. with this act.
I'VE would state that this is the only
drug listed in the U. S. Pharmacopeis
which we are prohibited from using
though hundreds are more dangerous.
eve are perfectly willing to let the peo
pie, our patients, be the judges of the fair
ness and justice of our demands and t.
abide by their decision We wou Id say
that in so far as we have been able tC
obtain an expression of opinion by canvass
| among our patients, that public sentiment
is overwhelmingly in our favor, and w
consider the people as the ultimate de
! Gliding power.