Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-04
VO[SIElbAySA|lS
DR.. ]. B.SDEAvER
Surgeons Recent Attack on Dry
Law Brings Reply From
Congressman
SENDS LETTER TO ToPE

The stand Of DR.. John b. Deaver
against prohibition. in a speech de.
livered here on April 13, has brought
forth reply from Representative Vol.
stead. in a letter written to the Rev.
DR.. Homer W. Tope. superintendent Of
the Pennsylvania Anti.S Saloon League.
Mr.. Volstead's letter to DR.. Tope
was as follows:
"Your note inclosing newspaper
speech delivered by DR.. John b. Deaver
received.
81 do not like to comment on q
speech reported in newspaper, as the
account may be very inaccurate and
misleading. II the doctor IL correctly
reported, he did not place his opposi.
tion to the prohibition law upon any new
1.-THE Characterization Of those who
do not agree with DR.. Deaver's views
as long .haired men and short haired
women is neither argument nor fact.
.'The doctors prominent position
adds nothing to such an accusation
against the millions Of earnest and
thoughtful people who are striving
earnestly to rid this country Of an age.
long evil:
have too high regard for our profes.
to enter our Offices TO see whether
We are obeyins the law" continued the
letter.
III the doctor in making this state.
ment seeks to place himself in the class
Of those who refuse to obey law, do
not envy him the distinction on the
company he covets. The doctor has no
greater right to refuse obedience Of the
law requiring supervision of those who
are authorized to handle liquor than
the bootleeger to violate other sections
Of the Jaw.
''The pretensions that doctors have
such high regard for their professional
honor that they must not be subject
to this law is ridiculous. We have al.
ways prided ourselves upon the fact
that this country has no class that can
claim exemption from any Inv. In view
Of our past experience, this claim is not
only ridiculous, It's preposterous.
There are as many shysters in the med
!cal profession as there are in any other
profession or among any other class OF
people.
Assails Liquor Prescriptions
Before limit was placed upon the
number Of prescriptions n doctor might
issue. a large number Of doctors did
practically nothing else but write liquor
prescriptions. In several instances.
doctors wrote as high as 400 or SOD a
day. so notoriously dishonest has a
large part Of the profession proved to be
that many Of the prohibition States
found it necessary long before the pro.
hibition amendment was adopted to for.
bid doctors from prescribing liquor at
all. Many Of these laws still remain in
force
II am glad to make acknowledgment
that a vast majority Of the doctors are
honest and law abiding. Only about %
per cent Of the doctors in the United
States have seen fit to ask permission
TO prescribe liquor at all, though such
permission may be had for the asking.
"If the newspaper article quotes the
doctor correctly, he evidently sought
to leave the impression that the law
prevents doctor from securing the
necessary alcohol for use in hospitals
or in operations. There Is no provi-
which fOrbids such use. nor Is there
any provision Of the law forbidding
the use Of alcohol for non beverage
purposes.
But when alcohol or any other in.
toxicating liquor is obtained by any
one the law requires that the purpose
for which 1t is to be used must be
stated, and after liquor has been oh.
tanned its use must be accounted for.
Without some such provision no limi-
tation could be placed upon the con-
sumption of liquor for beverage pur.
poses.
"1t is to be regretted that occasion.
ally men who occupy high position So
cially. professionally or otherwise
should be willing to say things that may
tend to encourage violation of law.
Their responsibility Is much greater
than that of the average citizen, and
they have larger stake In maintain.
ing law than others. The day will no
doubt come. and come sooner than they
expected, when they will wish what they
said might be forgotten. ,.
II trust that 1t may be found that
the Doctors speech was not correctly re.
ported. He has a perfect right, II he
is so inclined, to ask for the repeal
both Of the amendment and the law to
which he objects, but he has no right TO
refuse obedience to that law or to the
Constitution so long as either Is in
"Very truly yours. ~