The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1921-10-26
The Bill Has Been the Subject
of Much Talk, Some Claim
ing it is Dangerous, Others
Defending it as a Necessity !;
Treasury Dept. Between
Two Fires.
(By David Lawrence
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily

Times)
Washington, Oct. 25-Today
marks the beginning of another great
battle between "drys" and liberals"
over the use of beer and light win as
for medicinal purposes. The Treasury
| department has issued certain regula-
tions permitting physicians to pres
cribe beer or wine for the sick. Con-
greSS has under consideration bill
which would wipe out those regula-
tions the instant the measure is pass
ed which probably will be within a
t, few weeks.
Then the controversy will go to the
courts to determine whether the pro-
| hibition amendment to the federal
constitution intended to prohibit the
manufacture of Intoxicating liquors
'for beverage purposes only or
whether the American people who
the amendment intended that the sick
should of course be permitted to have
whatever physicians thought would
assist their return to health.
!
pending in Congress has been at
tackled by some physicians as danger
Gus and defended by others as of no
consequence to the practice of medi-
cine Senator Ball of Delaware, him
self physician has fought vehement
ly against the measure declaring that
in his experience the use of liquors
f, had been of considerable benefit to
patients
The great question is whether the
anti-beer bill which would amend
the Volstead act is constitutional. On
! ly the Supreme Court of the United
States can decide that A test case
will surely be brought the moment
the measure has gone through Con-
! gresS.
/ Meanwhile, the issuance by the
Treasury Department of the new
regulations interpreting the original
Volstead act as permitting physicians
to prescribe beer or wines is various
ly regarded. Some of the drys think
!. it is intended to prejudice their case
by crystalizing public opinion on the
subject of the use of liquors for
medical purpose. Some of the liberals
insist that the regulations were is
sued so as to stimulate the dry forces
into getting the anti-beer bill through
congress.
+ The truth is the Treasury Depart
F ment has for more than a year been
between two fires-the anti-saloon
league on the one hand insisting that
the regulations be held up SO Con-
gress could act while the owners of
, breweries and other manufacturing
, establishments have insisted that the
manufacture of beer and light wines
for medical purposes in the absence of
a specific law to the contrary.
Indeed, many breweries, especially
in the old wet states, have been kept
in commission for more than year
because of an expectation that these
regulations would be issued any day
!Attorney General Palmer was the first
to render the opinion that the Vol
stead act couldn't prevent the making
of beer and light wines for physi-
clans prescription. Attorney General
Daugherty concurred in that view but
the Treasury Department has been
hesitant to do anything that might in
:, volve it in the controversy going on
O in Congress.
1t has begun to look lately however
as if the anti-beer amendment to the
Volstead Act might be Indefinitely
held up. There's clause in it permit
ting prohibition agents to search
y private homes and private propert!
e without a warrant and this is declar
IT ed by Senators some of whom ar
l. 'wet" and some of whom have votet
Continued on Page Six.)