Arizona republican., 1921-05-13
DOCTOR F|GHT,j SINGLE HANDED TO RETAIN BEER
 AS A MEDICINE
Plan To Clamp Down Dry Lid Finds Little Opposi- tion From Wets-Drys Turn Out Strong
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]

WASHINGTON, May 12.-Signs of the days when the drys were batt- ling to bury John Barleycorn were re-enacted today before the house ju- dietary committee, except that few friends of Johns family appeared to protest against Chairman Volstead's plan to cut off, even for medicinal purposes, the heritage of beer.
 Many Drys Appear
 Plenty of drys were on hand and pr. J. P. Davin of New York, who pleaded for the use of beer as medi- cine, was given none too cordial treatment. In fact, he was roughly handled by Volstead. who challenged the physicians ability to explain anything and on another occasion declared the witness was using "a conglomeration of words that mean nothing''
 Outstanding in the testimony was the statement by Oliver T. Remmers. counsel for the Anheuser-Bu com pany of St. Louis, that the firm S 1 policy was for beer for all, or beer | for none.' He requested an inves- | tigation of "favoritism and failure"
 in the dry law enforcement and de- clared that the firm stood four square for law enforcement, although una1-
 terably opposed to prohibition.
 Dry leaders said there were many l leaks in the stocks of liquors and | urged the committee to make the Volstead law airtight. Dr. Davin however, resented the move by Mir l Volstead to dictate to physicians 1 what they shall or shall not prescribe and urged the committee to await
 consideration of the bill by the Amer I ican Medical association next month l VoIstead lnsulted
 MT. Volstead sought to establish l why it was possible for. physicians I to make medical beer by using cerea ! beverage ana alcohol. -ffe asked Dr Davin several questions along Uni! 1 line. none of which apparently wa. 1 answered to the satisfaction of tn,
 committee chairman, who finally
 blurted, Look here, you're tryins
 to evade every question I ask. Tel us what you know, if you know st
 much
 The witness again attempted al explanation but was interrupted b. MT. Volstead who inquired why cer cal beverages were not as good fo the invalid as beer with a kick. "Ah, that's the point" replied tn : witness. Near beer is just lik ! near craftsmanship. It can't accom- } plish any noticeable result I .I don't think you know what yo' :: are talking about" returned tn I chairman. nor do I think your in j. suits will get far with the commit
 tee'
 < Several committee members evinc ! ed interest in the kind of disease l for which the witness said he woul e prescribe beer. Most of them, how $ ever. were said by the witness [ yield slowly to curative treatment Some were curable only in exception | al cases, he added.
 Dry Law Unpopular Il F. V. Claypool, superintendent ( n the Rhode Island Anti Saloon leagu n declared that the Nostead law Wa O unpopular in his state.
 . Asked if the law was being en r forced as we'll there as in other sec S tions, he said:
 'Yes, the draft act also was en
 forced throughout the United State l. but, nevertheless. Bergdoll is in Ger s many and Edsel Ford did not go.' - Officials of the American Dru
 Manufacturers associations were he O fore the committee to discuss tecf , nical provisions of the bill. The as - sociation was represented by spoke' d men as favoring the prohibition
 beer but as objecting to some of u Q. provisions appertaining to their lint n of industry.
 L. Several expressed fear that if Il O prescribing of beer was permitte ,- drug establishments would be tran!
 formed into mere dispensers of be D. and that the change would lower Il t. ethical standard of the business.