Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-12
600 New Drug Stores
Opened In New York
Under Volstead Law
By Leo T. HeatIey.
Hush little gin mill,
Don't you cry!,
You III be a drug store
BY and by.
BY and by,

crease in the number of new drui
stores, started since the eighteenth
amendment became effective, ha
focused the attention Of local en-
forcement officials upon the in
creased amount Of distilled liquors
dispensed by these establishments
More than 500 new drug store.
hhye sprung up in the metropoli
tan area within the last year, ac
cotding to local dry officials.
sProhibition Director Yellowley
declared that in numerous cases il
was found that these new drug
stores are owned by men who for.
merly conducted saloons but found
thsir incomes curtailed by rigid
enforcement Of the Volstead act
The ease with which druggist
cab obtain q permit to sell spiritu-
odB liquors led many ex-saloon
keepers to purchase old established
drug stores, only to turn them into
bootlegging joints within short
time. Investigation proved that
these former saloon keepers fire.
quently purchased drug stores,
paying fancy price, in order to
got; the liquor permit of the own
err, thus greatly simplifying his
operations as bootlegger. The
New York state parmacy law does
not require that drug store own
er be registered pharmacist;
merely reciting the necessity of
having such registered practi-
toner on duty in the drug store
during certain hours. Licensed
pfSscription compounders are
available in this territory at $40
pAtI week.
Cut-Rate System. N
f Many of these mushroom
drug stores, after their purchase
by ex saloon keepers, sell drugs,
candies, cigars, perfumes, patent
hhSuiSihCS anu OlACi ouuuIlSS dL re-
duced prices in order to attract
large trade. When customer is
known to the owner OF the store
he Is approached with an offer
OF booze. In short time an ex-
tremely profitable business in
liquor Is built up, and the drug
trade assumes secondary import
ance, being used merely as cloak
for the real business of bootleg
ging carried on by the store owner.
When the saloons began to dis
appear here more than a year ago
they were replaced by soda foun-
tains, confectionery, cigar and |
fruit stores. Recently these in
their turn nave given place to
modern drug stores, carrying all
the side lines to be found in the
legitimate dispensing establish
ments and catering to new trade
through their ability to cut prices
below competitors.
Mn Citizens Complained.
AAftention of the dry agents was
Called to activities of these drug
stores when complaints were re-
ceiYed from citizens that they were
urged to buy boze whenever they
articles at these stores.
Chief Enforcement Director Yell
lowley launched campaign
against these pseudo-druggists,
with the result that many were ar
rested charged with violation OF
the prohibition law, and heavy
fines were imposed. This did not
serve to drive the Illegal sellers
out of the business, however, as
their profits were declared to be
sol enormous that they willingly
rfsked further heavy fines in order
10 rake in the thousands Of dol
ars to be maue in dispensing
liquor. 1t was found that a man
'ould buy liquor in these stores a
the formality of obtain
ng prescription.
Use "I' Permits.
When an ex-saloon keeper en- ,
cred the drug" business his first
step was to obtain an 81" permit
rom the state prohibition direct
n, Under present regulations
'etail druggist holding such per-
nit is entitled to Withdrawals of !
100 gallons of distilled spirits, in
luding alcohol, whiskey, brandy,
lin and rum, and 400 gallons of Il
rine within one year Director v
'ellowley said there are now 5000
{ these ~ permits in effect in
he metropolitan district.
Peter Diamond, secretary of the
on prohibition of the 6
Iew York pharmaceutical confer \
nee, said that never in the his 4
Dry Of pharmacy have there been
} many drug stores in New York Z
ity the proprietors of which are =
IT registered pharmacists as there i
re today. He said that when sa-
ION keepers had to close their A
lops it was natural that they
lould enter the nearest kindred \
which was the drug
ade. -