The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-04-20
FORECASTS NO
DRY LAW CHANGE
"DRYS" IN CONGRESS STRONGER.
BEER AS MEDICINE TO RE-
MAIN VOLSTEAD SAYS.

Washington, April 20-Prescrib-
ing beer and wine as medicine will
not be made unlawful by congress
unless the use of those intoxicants
becomes general and leads to an alb
solute breaking down of national
prohibition.
This is the prediction made by
representative A. j. Volstead of
Minnesota, chairman of the house ju-
dietary committee and author of the
prohibition enforcement act.
In discussing the recent ruling of
the department of justice that wines
and beers as well as whisky may be
prescribed by physicians as medicine.
Mr. Volstead said In al the country
demanded a proper enforcement of
the law. but would not tolerate petty
lnyasiOns OF the right Of individuals
The dry forces are stronger in con
gress today than when the amend
ment was originally passed, accord
ing to Mr.. Volstead, but this strength
will not be used to strengthen the
law in particulars recommended by
the ardent drys. What the same
prohibition leaders want is to allow
the enforcement act to remain as it
is, and they will insist only upon
the enforcement of tbs very plain
provisions and not attempt to invade
the so-called personal rights of the
individual.
While some of the dry forces are
insisting that legislation be enacted
Immediately prohibiting physicians
from prescribing beer and wine, there
is a disposition among the leaders
responsible for existing prohibition
legislation to give the new ruling a
trial to see how it works out before
attempting TO tighten up the law by
specifically providing that those in
toXicants shall not be prescribed.
This does not mean. SO Mr.. Vol
stead pointed out, that those who
fought for and obtained the present
prohibition law think that beer and
wine are necessary as medicine.
Many of them believe that the giving
of prescriptions for beer and wine
VIII pION6 d duS III d
time and that the people generally
will demand that those intoxicants
be eliminated from the list of medi-
cines by legislative enactment.
"The Volstead act" said its au-
thor, never contemplated the pre-
They are not needed. Malt is some
times prescribed as tonic, but there
is as much malt in near beer as there
is in real beer. AS a matter of fact,
real beer is made first and the al
cohol taken out either by a vacuum
or evaporation process, so that in
nearbeer there are all the ingredients
of real beer except the alcohol"
Mr.. Volstead said that the senti-
| ment of the country will loudly de-
| mand a revocation of the regulation
| if physicians are allowed to pre-
/ scribe beer or wine in unlimited
quantities. When told that the reg
ulations drafted by the treasury de-
partment, but not yet approved,
would permit prescriptions of At gall
| lon a month, he declared that was
| entirely too much.
THAT is only two bottles day" j"
| he was reminded.
well, that is more than anyone
needs" Mr.. Volstead asserted.
| ''The day of the open saloon in
| America is gone forever. The vets
realize that. Just now they are
making a drive for beer and wine
realizing that they cannot possibly
get more than that and that under
| the guise of medicine.
There must be greater vigilance
| than ever before until the country is
thoroughly convinced that prohibi-
ton is the right thing. When the
country is educated to that view, en-
forcement will be easy"