The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-31
NARCOTIC EVIL
is INCREASING
Claim More Addicts Since
Clinics Closed
BY Edward Thierry

NEW YORK. Jan. ai.-"wallnee
Reid. film star. died victim OF evil
administration OF narcotic drug
laws
This is the judgment OF two ply.
r.cians. eminent narcotic authorities,
expressed In n joint Interview today.
One is DIR. Lester ID. voik. con.
gresham. who a year ago introduced
a resolution providing for congress
slonBi investigation OF tho drug alt.
uation. Tho other II Or. Ernest s.
Bishop. author OF ''The Narcotic
Drug Problem" and recognized as
the leading student and authority on
the subject.
Doctors voik and Bishop join in
these statements:
Wallace Reid might have lived 20
be cured OF his narcotic disease had
not the prohibition enforcement d..
vision OF the bureau OF internal rev.
enuc arbitrarily closed. without rea-
son or explanation. the clinic cstab.
llshed in Los Angeles In 1920 for the
study and treatment OF narcotic
addiction.
similar mysterious orders closed
tho doors OF other clinics in San
Diego. New Orleans and Durham.
n. C.. driving thousands OF sufferers
like Reid into the clutches OF Illicit
underground peddlcrs.
Movie actors ns class ara not
victims OF narcotic drug addiction In
any greater numbers than any other
class of people: the sensation follow.
ing Reid's death wrongly paints Hol.
lywood as n drug.Eripped town. be
cause conditions there arc no worse
than in the average American city"
Both physicians have been lead.
ers In the fight for education of the
public TO tho truth OF narcotic condI.
tons and for taking addicts out of
tho hands Of iaymen, and out OF the
grip OF Illicit peddlers. by establish.
ing clinics for study OF tho disease
and permitting reputable physicians
10 treat them.
This Is TO new condition that
Wallace Reds death has disclosed"
said Congressman volk. ''why are
revenue officials rushing TO Holly.
wood now7 The whole country has
been suffering for long time Off.
cials knew Il. and they did nothing"
1T Is not condition. but re-
suit" said DR.. Bishop. 1T did not
exist 10 years ago.
DR.. volk introduced his resolution
for narcotic investigation more
than a year ago. 1t was referred
to the house committee on rules
Jan. 4. 1929, and stili lies pigeon.
holed there altho II has been in.
dorscd by practically all tho medical
and scientific societies OF the United
States.
Similarly DIR. Bishop uttered
warning OF existing conditions in an
Interview with tho N. Il. A. Service
n year ago.
In n speech in congress Jan. 10,
1922. DIR. volk called attention to the
NY i'b' Ni'Niiik vi tHt CliHlCN NJ
Los Angeles, San Diego and New
Orleans. Or. Edward Huntington
williams. OF the state University OF
California, IN his book. "opiate AID.
dction," described the benefits of
the Los Angeles clinic during the
brief five months 1t WINS permitted
to operate.
THE welfare OF millions IA In the |
balance" said DR.. Volk. "They are |
In the grip of Illicit peddlcrs-and Il !
" significant TO remember that ad. !
diets spend s75,0oo.0OO a year for /
opiates. Scientists are terrorlzed by
laymen's Interpretation Of laws and |
OF rules"
Most drug users take opiates, such
ns morphine and heroln. Doctors
volk and Bishop said. They define
the use OF opiates MS an addiction,
n diseaSc: and the use of cocaine as
m Indulgence, Hike alcohol.
Take cocaine away from n user
and he will not die" said Or. Bishop.
Take oplatcs away from mn addict
md no dies horrible DEATH"