The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-01-10

Washington, Jan. 1.-Fanatical
prohibitionists are responsible for
tho hundreds of death caused within
the past few weeks by the drinking
of whisky substitutes, according to
an official of the Internal Revenue
Bureau. who for years has been ac-
tive In the matter Of the enforce
ment Of license laws.
when the anti-drug act was pass
cd" said this official, provision was
made for the confirmed addict to
whom the withholding OF the drug
meant death. There are thousands
OF people In the United States who
are just as confirmed addicts TO whis-
ny and who will go to the same ex-
tremes 10 get whisky as the drug
addict will go to get his fayorite
drug.
Licensed physicians are permitted
to prescribe a certain amount Of
drugs OF the unfortunate addict can
go to a licensed bureau and obtain
sufficient amount to prevent abnor-
mai suffering because OF the pro-
hibition of the sale of drugs. but no
provision whatever is made for the
person who, perhaps, for many many
years has been used to having his
drink of whisky He must either per-
jure himself or cause some ply
stefan to perjure himself before he
can obtain any, and then only at a
prohibitive price.
LAWS Won't stop Drinking.
"These deaths, paralysis or total
blindness from the drinking Of sub
stitutes were expected by those who
have made a study OF the situation
and. though Congress might enast
all the legislation in the world IL
will not stop these people from drink
ing anything that contains alcohol.
The recent deaths for the most part
were caused by the drinking Of a
LIQUID that clearly is not a beverage
and cannot without serious results,
be used as, beverage.
wood alcohol, such as that drunk
by those who died Christmas Day in
New England and other sections OF
the country, Is denatured will within
the limits prescribed by the prohibit
ton enforcement laws, and its sale
can not be prohibited as long as the
used for mechanical purposes.
mo normal person would knowing.
" drink such stuff And no norma
person would purchase and drinl
the stuff that is being sold now as
whislSey addiets who have suddenl,
been cut off FROM something t.
which their constitution has become
accustomed and cannot resist thu
craving, who are purchasing ant
drinking and drinking these substi
tutes with such disastrous effects.
Greed fer Money Partly to Blame
-0g course, there are those who's
greed for money will lead them int
the purchasing, coloring and sale 0
this deadly mixture as whisky, bu
they are in the minority. Sooner o
later these persons will be captures
and dealt with to the limit of tn
law, but until some provision is mad
whereby whisky addicts are take
care OF, these addicts will continu
20 buy and drink anytime that con
tains alcohol and satisfies the whisk
craving regardless OF the consequ
ence"
The revenue officials are doin
their best to detect and arrest al
whisky bootleggers, whether the
sell pure or bad whisky. but tn
law does not prevent persons fror
buying wood alcohol in the maxim
Of beverages.
II Is expected that the suggestion
recently made that the makers G
wood alcohol be required by law t
mix It with certain ingredients whic
viii render it Immediately unpalai
able and thereby result in its dc
lection even by a novice. will be car
ried into effect within the next FEY
months
Carl Agninst Poison Urged.
Commenting upon the reports I
fhis mornings newspapers Of MOI
deaths from whjsky made from WOO