The Washington times., 1923-05-07
CLUB WOMEN To
FIGHT DOPE
TRAFFIC
Led by Mrs. Wallace Reid, Fed
GRAFTON Will Cooperate With
Anti-Narcotic League.
BY international News service.

by international News Service.
ATLANTA, May THE death
knell of the dope industry in this
country is expected to be sounded
here soon.
Led by Mrs. Wallace Reid. wife
of the late film star whose life was
snuffed out by narcotics, 100000
American club women will join
hands with the Anti-Narcotic
League in launching national cam
paign against the drug evil when
the mid-biennial council of the Cen
eraI Federation of Women's Clubs
assemblies at Atlanta today, and
continue in session until May IL.
First, there will be q stirring
speech on the opium traffic as 1t
is known to exist in this country.
and then there is expected to be
passed a resolution pIedging every
member of the General Federation
TO fight to a finish the war which
Mrs. Reid backed by THE Com.
mittee to Publish Facts" has just
begun.
Cooperate in Crusade.
The committee is composed of
DIR. r. 3. Won Klefnsmid, president
of the University of California:
Judge Benjamin Bledsoe, United
States Judge of the Twelfth Fed
eral district; Harold Lloyd. film
star comedian; L. ID. Oaks, Los
Angeles chief of police; j. p. Car
ter, former collector u. s. Reeve.
nue. Department: Brigadier c.. r
Boyd, of the Salvation Army, and
many other well-known leaders.
Mrs. Thomas G. Winter, president
OF the General Federation of Won
ems Clubs, Is already cooperating
in the newly launched crusade, and
the State presidents of the fifty
and the District of Columbial are
expected to carry the nationwide
fight against dope into each State
simultaneously.
Every great crusade must have
its Jeanne dare.
So says the Anti-Narcotic League,
and 1t is offering the one person
whom it believes can qualify in
the crusade against drugs.
Mrs. Reid Is Leader.
Until now" writes Ruth Sterry,
secretary to Mrs. Reid, 1.-The sure
defense of Demon Dope against the
Mortified protests of organized so
ciety has been that it was nobody's
business. Those who have suffered
most and were deepest in it's tolls
had the best reaon for silence and
self-imposed obscurity.
1T was battle in the dark. 1t
in VXyk1f oh oG
sence of success, meant publicity.
but in which the first rays of
publicity meant the instant dis.
persal of the army In other
words, it was a vicious circle. 1t
was lost battle because there was
no one openly to lead the fight. 1t
had been academic, and academic
crusades do not end in victory.
Into the rather bleak situation
comes Mrs. Wallace Reid.
Bares Private Sorrow.
"Of all known drug victims her
young husband had been the most
conspicuous. Never in the history
of the dope evil has a soul been
laid SO bare-so pitilessly bare
as was her personal sorrow.
with a self-sacrifice that was
inspiring she gave her story to the
world.
wallace Reid Is now dead-a
soldier fallen in the fight. Unless
his sacrifice is to be a futile Incl
dent some one must carry on its
pitiful moral to warn those under
the first temptation of dope.
Mrs. Wallace Reid has taken
the torch.
ganized American women:
What is your State Federation
of Women's Clubs doing toward
aiding in the national campaign
against narcotics?' she has asked
In a letter mailed to thousands Of
leading women throughout the
country And every club woman
in America is expected to respond
by enlistment in the Anti Narcotic
League, following official endorse
ment of the league and its labors
by the federation council.
Financing Herself.
THE campaign against the dope
industry is to be financed by Mrs.
Reid herself, who does not ask for
money aid. She expects TO raise
the necessary funds from proceeds
Of film which she is now making
and which will lay bare the sef
robustness of the drug menace.
This film, which Is expected TO
he released in the late summer,
has already received the endorse,
ment of Secretary of Labor Davis,
Secretary of the Navy DenbY, Sur
Seon General Ireland and many
United States Senators and Con
gressmen."