Evening star., 1936-05-23
THOMAS Halls
/. D. c. TEACHING ACT
Holds Compulsory Instruc-
ton on Effects of Mar
cotiCS Should Be Model.

The law requiring that District
public school children be taught the
effects of alcohol and narcotics on
the human system should be adopted
as a model for all reform movements,
Senator Ebert Thomas of Utah de-
clared last night in the main address
of a program in Central High School
Auditorium, sponsored by the Allied
Organization to observe the 50th ami
versary of the laws enactment.
Senator Thomas, himself former
professor. said he was familiar per-
sonally with the operation Of the law
was a territorial institution. where
his teachers taught him the evils
of alcohol.
Should Be Made Model.
II think this law should be made
a model for all reform movements" "
said the Utah Legislator, speaking
before an audience of several hundred.
Reforms can succeed only when they
are supported by truth and fact. The
basis of all education should rest
upon morals and the emphasizing
of character building"
The Senator referred to the public's
changed attitude toward the use Of
intoxicating liquors since 1885, the
year the present law was enacted, and
emphasized the stress which insurance
companies, surety concerns and. "all
employers of men in trusted positions"
are making with regard to the drink
ing habit.
He pleaded for abstinence for the
sake of efficiency and success in per-
sonal and private life.
Full enforcement and observance of
the alcohol and narcotic public school
instruction law is proposed in a reso-
luton passed at the meeting.
After paying tribute to officials and
teachers who have during the past
half century sincerely and adequately
observed the alcohol and narcotic in
struction law in the public schools of
the District of Columbia" and express
ing thanks to those officials and teach
ers who are now enforcing it, the
resolution called on the Board of Edu-
cation for stricter enforcement.
DR.. Baliou Speaks.
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools, discussed the teaching of
effects of alcohol and narcotics on
the human body. as conducted in the
schools today, and said it was "as
adequate as any other subject in
any other course offered in the public
schools"
Senator Capper of Kansas presided
over the meeting and gave a brief
history of the law. Five-minute ad-
dresses were delivered by Mrs. John
s.. Bennett, past president of the
Woman's City Club; Mrs. Lloyd w.
Biddle, president of the General Fed
GRAFTON of Women's Clubs; Mrs. N. M.
Pollock, past president of the Dis
trict w. c. T. u; Mrs. Harvey w.
Wiley. new president of the Woman's
City Club, and Mrs. Ernest H. Daniels,
first vice president of the General
Federation.
Concluding the program was a
short one-act play written expressly
for the occasion and presented by
the District Post of Allied Youth,
under direction Of william Frank
Cleaver. Boy Scouts acted as ushers
while musical numbers were rendered
by high school musicians under d.
rection Of DR.. Edwin N. G. Barnes.
More than 200 civic, church, citi-
zens' and welfare organizations spon-
sored the meeting. j. Raymond
Schmidt was general chairman, with
William v. Mahoney acting as exc
cutive secretary.