The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-11-15

~ TIE man aicne Ft>poHSths t"f
the utter helplessncss OF the
state to cope with lis hideous
dope problem.
The man Douglas boldly point
81 out l. Gov. Louis n. Hart
Douglas had Just received an
Invitation from the governor 10
attend a conference in this city.
November s6. 10 lay plans for
waging warfare ON iraiiiekers In
dope.
OTHER INVITATIONS
ARE SENT OtT
other similar invitations are un-
ccrstood 10 have reached various
city. state and federal law enforce
ment officials in other parts OF the
state today
Asked whether he would attend the
conference. Douglas replied sffirma.
lively and added:
Il will give you a written state
mcnt. II sou like"
He then dictated to his stenogra.
pher.
awakened to the peril Of the narcotic
traffic and hope the conference
vim accomplish good results.
sNo one hates the traffic more
than / do. No one il more anxious
20 10 the limit In convicting and
punishlng the dope peddler.
The cases of persons charged
with possession and sale Of drugs
are at present all handled by the
police courts and federal courts and
not BY the state courts. This policy
d followed for the reason that our
present state laws are entirely made
oalate to cope with the problem
\ RESPONSIBILITY
Is GOV. HARTS
Responsibility for this lies square
II on the shoulders OF Gov. Louis
Hart
Douglas recalled that Gov. Hart
HAD vetoed the anttnarcotic bill pass
"a by the last legislature after both
houses had voted In favor OF IT
unanimously.
sWe were making plans." he
said, ito wage war to the death
!. IN seattle dope peddIers. when.
"a our utter establishment. Gov.
Hart vetoed the hill after the
legislature had adjourned
sThe sections OF the bill. objected 10
~ Gov. Hart were provisions taken
specifically verbatim from the federal
narcotic law known as the Harrison
act.
The present state law IL made
ouafe to suppress the drug evii.for
the following reasons:
@Fsrst--It is in conflict with the
Harrison act.
.ssecond--It does not provide for
proper care and treatment OF drug
ndsiicss.
.-Third--It does not provide suf-
Recently severe punishment for the
traffieker in narcotics. which Ia the
erux OF the whole matter"
The hill vetoed by Gov. Hart
had '-tee<h in IT," II provided
pemitentiary sentences for dope
pe1iafiers, great and small alike
HAD APPROVAL
or EVERYBODY
II was sponsored by the American
White Cross and had the approval Of
numerous public spirited organiza-
TONS and clubs besides prominent OF.
firials. the druggists association.
I physicians. chemists. scientists and
tpolice officials.
= The governors Sudden awaken
Ing Is looked upon by other off
Gals in a different light.
Police Chief Harry VI. Smith.
Tacoma Is understood to have
- a.ff
his belief that the meeting was
called for no other purpose
than 'spure bunk"
Judge Everett Smith. Of the King
county superior court, said he was
keeniy interested In every move.
nent against the dope traffic and
would attend. but recalled that
Governor Harris veto of a iegisla-
tive appropriation bin had closed.
few months ago. the women's
health clinic, a state institution at
Medical Lake. where many narcotic
cases were sent for cure.
About the only place we can
send these poor derelicts now Is 10
the penitensiary," said Judge Smith
WANTED TO GO
TO ASYLUM
only the other day young
man faced me and pleaded guilty
Of some petty offense. He had
good face. He said:
Judge, I would consider IT
= great favor " you would send
me 10 the insane asylum
'WhyT ] asked.
80 ] can be cured OF my
habit" he said.
y can't do that told him. And
don't want to send you to tho
penifentiary for 40 small an offense.'
IN CO. he said, and gladly. IL
they'll cure me there
Il told him they would. and sent
him to WaIla WalIa TO stay there un.
IN cured. He went out thanking
me-"
The governor has hidden federal
Judges. federal district attorneys; all
superior court Judges. county prose
cutors and sheriffs Of King, Pierce,
Spokane, Wbatcorn and Snohomlsh
counties and police officials and
dope squad members OF Seattle, Ia.
s-cQrna, Spokane. Everett and BelIing-
ham to the conference.
CHIEF Soaring
EAGER TO HELP
Police Chief Soaring. eager 10 as
sist In any movement that viii en-
able him TO clean Seattle OF dope
pcddlers and TO help the addict. said
he would attend and voice himself in
favor OF vigorous prosecution and
long Jail sentences for malefactors.
Inspector Hans Damn and his
narcotic squad viii attend. I'VE want
IN, insist on the courts giving