Evening star., 1926-12-04

The announcement by Gen. An
enforcement service, that the supply
of whisky for medicinal purposes has
been greatly reduced, coupled with
the suggestion that additional amounts
should be distilled under Government
supervision, has aroused a Nation
wide debate. The AntfSaloon League
has taken a position in opposition to
Gen. Andrews, and the division of
opinion extends to the country gen.
orally.
80 long as whisky and other alco-
holic fluids have their recognized and
legal place in the pharmacopeia," ad-
vises the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
physicians and patients have every
right to the assurance that what they
are getting Is pure and not bootleg
gers poison. 1t is with this idea in
mind that Gen. Andrews will ask the
Congress, when it meets, to authorize
the organization of q corporation to
buy all privately owned stocks now in
warehouses and distilleries. to manu-
facture such additional stocks as may
be required, and to dispense the same
to the druggists. To uncompromising
prohibitionists this may seem like the
creation Of a Government dispensary
and Government dabbling in the liq-
uor trade. But while the privilege Of
selling LIQUOR on doctors prescriptions
has been undoubtedly abused, there is
no reason why the legitimate side OF
these transactions should be penalized,
nor why honest physicians and their
patients should be exposed to the
grave risks they are sometimes COM
PEELED to rum"
Quoting the statement of Wayne B.
Wheeler, general counsel Of the Anti
Saloon League, that there is no occa-
sion for taking this step now, that the
stocks on hand will last eight years
and will not be exhausted in five years,
as contended by the Government OFF,
cial, the Louisville Courier-J Journal
declares: "As between the statements
of Gen. Andrews and Mr.. Wheeler, on
this point, there is no apparent rea-
son for believing that Mr.. Wheeler
knows more about the medicinal
whisky in storage than Gen. Andrews
knows. Besides, If it is to be replaced
by manufacture. Mr.. Wheeler would
find it difficult to explain why the
manufacture should not as well be-
gin now. in ample time, as three years
later. OF course, the extremists among
the prohibitionists object to replacing
this whisky at ALL They take it upon
themselves to decide that whisky has
no medicinal value and they would
forbid physicians prescribing 1t and
patients drinking 1t. But as the pro
hibition law has not been extended
that far, the objections Of this ele-
ment are irrelevant"
The objects of the plan are quoted
by the New Orleans Item as pure
whisky for legitimate purposes. at
reasonable prices. and prevention OF
diversion of medicinal liquor to boot
leg channels" and that paper fails TO
see "any substantial ground for op-
position or Mysteries by the Anti
Saloon League or others" The Item
believes that the plan would accom-
plish several of the objects set forth.
and might also reduce the retail
price, which. at SO and $3.50 a pint.
is extortionate" The Yankee Daily
Republic asserts that ordinary boot
leg and moonshine stuff, which can be
obtained anywhere. most likely Is poi
sonous and dangerous to use. though
often It Is used because nothing bet
ter can be had. There ought to be no
argument about the advisability Of leg
islatton by Congress. concludes that
paper. The Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph feels sure that physicians,
nurses, hospital superintendents and
others whose task is combating dis
ease will warmly approve the sug'
gestion'
Skepticism az toSresults is expressed
by the SyracuseA Herald. with the
statement that e interests of the
sick are matter - no consequence to