The New York herald., 1921-07-13
SENATORS IN WRATH
AT ANTI-BEER BILL
Lodge, Knox and Wadsworth
Denounce Wills-Campbell
Measure.
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald bureau,
WasltinptOn ID C. .IuIv ~

New York Herald bureau,
Washington, ID. c., July 12.
The Willis-Campbell anti-beer bill is
unconstitutional and never will stand
the test Of final review in the highest
court in the land. according to argu-
ments launched in the Senate to-day
and supported by Senators Lodge and
Knox, Wadsworth and Williams.
The measure was assailed further as
an insult" to the reputable physicians
of the country. as an inducement to
law breaking and an agent of destruc-
ton of the very public opinion on which
the proponents of prohibition must rely
for its enforcement.
The contention that the bill will not
stand the test of the court brought a
counter argument from Senator Walsh
(Mont.). He insisted that 1t clearly
was within the power of Congress to
regul,te the use of intoxicants for me-
dicinal purposes II that seemed neces-
sary In order to prevent its use for
beverage purposes.
TIN point made by those arguing
against the constitufionality of the pro-
posed law is that the Eighteenth
Amendment contained limitations on
the right to manufacture, sell and
transport Intoxicating liquor "for bev-
erage purposes" only and that to re-
strict its use for either medicinal or
"sacramental' purposes was beyond the
scope of the Eighteenth Amendment
Had the Eighteenth Amendment read
that these limitations were placed on
the use OF Intoxicating liquors for bev-
erSge and medicinal purposes said
Senator Knox In explaining his position,
1T would not have voted for 1t. ] do
not propose by my vote to import into
this amendment that which was never
dreamed of by its proponents. IL Is
| not my purpose to put an Insult on cne
great and noble medical profession to
which we must all turn at times
"Fannticism," Says wadsworth.
Senator Lodge predicted that the law,
ie approved. will get into the courts
and said that it was hindering the cause
of temperance.
"As one who believes In law enforce
ment." he said. "and desires to have
the present law tested. protest against
legislation of this kind"
An especially vigorous attack was
launched upon the measure by senator
Wadsworth. who asserted that IL
savored of '.fanaticdsm-'
when Congress sets up its Judgment
in medical matters against that of the
medical profession" said Mr.. Wads-
worth, lit seems TO me that Congress
is going too far. / know OF the zeal
of the advocates of prohibition ana ap-
preciate that he have the Eighteenth
Amendment and ! am heartily in favor
of enforcing It,
However, do not see how TINS pro-
uosed law will add to the enforcement
OF prohibition. for. to my mind. II IS
nm invitation to violate the law. rms
law limits TO q half pint In ten days
the amount of liquor physician may
nrescrihe for a patient. This means
that Congress steps in and denies to
a reputable physician the right 10 pre-
scribe for a patient what that physician
thinks Is necessary for the health OK
his patient
Recalls Influenza Epidemic.
"I ask Senators to recollect the influ-
enza epidemic of few years ago. You
will remember how at that time pnysi-
clans pleaded with their friends TO aid
them in getting liquor to be used In
saving the lives of their patients.
personally know Of physicians Of the
highest standing who went among their
friends seeking their aid in obtaining the
whiskey necessary to combat the
scourge.
EVERY Senator here with an ounce OF
common sense knows that In many a
case OF pneumonia more than one pint
is necessary over period of ten days
This bill makes It almost impossible for
n physician TO obey the law or use any
discretion except that fixed by DIR. Con-
gress. IT is scarcely statesmanship, IL Ia
scarcely sane legislation for Con-
gress 10 set up It's Judgment and say TO
physicians: You shall not prescribe
more than half pint to save your
patients life
BY this legislation you are adding TO
the number OF those already engaging in
perfect debauchery of law violation.
voice my protest against this action of
Congress- / think II Is fanaticism. and
you cannot go on in this way and expect
TO arouse IN the minds of the people a