Talk:Harry J. Anslinger

message: For those previous posters who noted that druglibrary.org was down for a while let me assure you that it is back up and in operation. Thank you for your concern and thank you for making the effort to keep those documents in public view. 
Now we have another issue, of course. Regular readers of druglibrary.org know that is has the largest online collection of documents by and about Harry Anslinger (among other things). The reason that collection is there is because I OCRed and/or handtyped most of them from rare originals way back before Wikipedia was even a fond idea. 
So -- those of you who know the Schaffer Library and are familiar with it -- you would probably think that it would be entirely appropriate to post a link to the largest collection of personal Anslinger documents in the Wikipedia article on Anslinger. Now doesn't that seem logical? I thought so, so I tried to post the link.
The link was immediately deleted by an editor who claimed that, because the link comes from my site, it is "spamming". Never mind that it links to the most complete collection of relevant documents. 
Never mind that the same documents have been linked from other pages on Wikipedia for many years. On one page, my link is OK, on another it is "spam" and I have to post it here in the discussion. Never mind even that my site is already mentioned as a valuable resource on this very discussion page. Go figure. 
Perhaps even more interesting was the edit on the book "The Traffic in Narcotics". I put in a link to the full text of Anslinger's own book "The Traffic in Narcotics". That was also deleted. At the same time, they retained the link to an article "The Traffic in Narcotics" that originally came from that book. What was the difference? The article comes from the "neutral" UNODC site while mine comes from a "personal" site. Mine is therefore "spam". 
OK, so let's get this settled once and for all. On this page, I posted two links. They were:
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/people/anslinger/traffic/default.htm -- This is the full text of the book "The Traffic in Narcotics" -written by Harry Anslinger 
http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/people/anslinger/index.htm - This is a link to the largest online collection of documents by and about Anslinger.
Just for the record, let me note that 1) I put all those documents on the net so, if they are linked from any other site, then that site copied them from mine. 2) All the documents are presented in their full text without my editorial comments. You know, just like you would find in any ordinary library. 3) I don't even agree with some of the documents. My opinion of Anslinger is that he was something of a nut case but I have just presented his writings as I found them so others can read them and make their own opinions. You know, I wanted to be "neutral" in that regard.
Now I would have thought that a collection of Anslinger's personal documents was a perfectly appropriate link for the article on Harry Anslinger. I got told that sort of thing was not allowed, and I have to go through this process and ask permission from the general consensus of readers before posting such "spam". OK, so here it is.
What is the public consensus on putting a link to a collection of Anslinger's own documents on the Harry Anslinger page? How do you vote? Is it:
1) "spamming"
2) absolutely essential to the article
And, just for the record, I have numerous other documents that are simply the best references in the world on the subject. For some examples, look up the Wikipedia articles on the US National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, the La Guardia Committee Report, the Marihuana Tax Act, etc. I posted all of the original documents on the web and Wikipedia has linked to me since the articles were created. 
Just for the record, let's note one obvious error in Wikipedia right now. The Wikipedia article is titled "1937 Marijuana Tax Act". This is the wrong spelling. The US Government has traditionally spelled it "Marihuana" - with an "h". I would try to correct it but I have been told that I am not qualified to do so.
Therefore, can we also have a quick vote on whether Cliff Schaffer -- the largest publisher of the major drug policy research in history -- is qualified to edit Wikipedia articles?  How say you all?
Thanks.
  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wolfman97 15:58, 26 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree that the above web pages are strongly related to the article. However, they are also heavily commercial. I think links to non-commercial web sites with the same material would be preferable. However, if none exist, then using the links above should be just as acceptable as linking to material on other commercial websites, such as those of various news agencies. -- Moecazzell 06:18, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Note in response to previous posters 

message: Anslinger must be unpopular with some Wiki-editor.
* First, tell us what you don't know: While little is known about his private life or personal views,
* Then, the editor avoids the word hate but says so in other words in the passive voice: there are examples in Anslinger's writings and behavior that justify today's intense abhorrence of his character.
If the reader wants to abhor his character, intensely, or moderately, we can let the reader read the article further. patsw 00:48, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Intense abhorrence" 

message: I deleted what can only be gossip, as it is not sourced. The deleted section was a quote attributed to Anslinger about "darkies".
::"Colored students at the Univ. of Minn. partying with female students (white), smoking [marijuana] and getting their sympathy with stories of racial persecution. Result pregnancy"[citation needed] 
::"Two Negros took a girl fourteen years old and kept her for two days under the influence of marijuana. Upon recovery she was found to be suffering from syphilis."[citation needed] —Preceding unsigned comment added by Okaythere (talk • contribs) 
:::Those citations seem to come from James A. Inciardi's book The War on Drugs: Heroin, Cocaine, Crime, and Public Policy. Although I don't know anything about this Inciardi, I think those citations may be accurate. Steinberger (talk) 23:46, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Deletion of Gossip 

message: I deleted the following line a few weeks ago because it is not sourced, but is clearly gossip:
During a conference for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Anslinger was heard saying:
    "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." 
Since it's not sourced, and there's no evidence he ever said it than it doesn't deserve to be in an encyclopedia. So I'm deleting this piece of slanted, biased slander once again.
I also deleted a number of quotes attributed to Anslinger because once again none were sourced. There's no evidence that he ever said them.
Okaythere 22:57, 19 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Appears to be attributed to a quote from Harry Anslinger at a Federal Bureau of Narcotics conference in 1937.  It probably appears in Jack Herer's book, but I'm guessing.  Another website claims that Anslinger said it in 1931, and cites Grinspoon's Marihuana Reconsidered.  Considering the racist arguments used to demonize Cannabis, and further evidence that Anslinger has made other racist arguments in favor of prohibition, if the source can be verified, the quote should be added back into the article with a clear description of its reliability.  —Viriditas | Talk 12:06, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Absolutely non-neutral POV article 

message: I deleted the following lines:
"
Currently, many firmly oppose Anslinger's legacy against marijuana, fueling decades of misinformation about the drug.  Some contend that Harry J. Anslinger was really just a representative puppet for a thriving political belief. In other words, although it would appear that Anslinger was a conservative who truly believed marijuana to be a threat to the future of American civilization, his biographer maintained that he was an astute government bureaucrat who viewed the marijuana issue as a means for elevating himself to national prominence. "
The reasons for doing so are:
1. The POV in the first line is that there has been "decades of misinformation" about marijuana. Exactly what this misinformation consists of isn't discussed and isn't clear. It's an opinion inserted into an article.  "Some contend" in the next sentence is meaningless. If it's to be neutral, then whatever anyone contends about Harry Anslinger should also be included. Since that's clearly not possible, having one negative opinion about him doesn't show a neutral point of view.
We're dealing with facts, not non-sourced editorial opinions.Okaythere 07:38, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It's poorly written and too wordy, but it is essentially historically accurate.  The "decades of misinformation" about marijuana should be explained. —Viriditas | Talk 11:04, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The bureaucrat statement is important for NPOV (although it's true it wasn't written in the best way). This is because lots of people tend think that Anslinger personally hated cannabis and that motivated his crusade. On the other hand, that's not what his biographer asserts and it's important to note that he used the anti-cannabis sentiment to become a prominent political figure. I moved this statement (minus the "some contend.." sentence) out of the intro and into an appropriate subheading. --Howrealisreal 18:43, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  More changes 

message: Can someone verify the existence of "Hollidaysburg Mercy Hospital", where the article says Anslinger diead?  I've lived in Hollidaysburg for quite a while, and I've never heard of this hospital (it certainly doesn't exist today).  There was a hospital in nearby Altoona named "Mercy Hospital" (later known as Bon-Secours), perhaps this is the hospital that Anslinger died at.Shanafme 12:25, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I have Anslinger's newspaper obituary from the Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA., Nov. 15, 1975, p. 1, The first paragraph reads as follows: "Harry Jacob Anslinger, one of Blair County's most distinguished citizens, died at 1:05 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 1975, in Mercy Hospital. He was 83." 4.227.248.122 04:34, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: It's definitely Altoona's Mercy Hospital then.  As far as I know, Hollidaysburg itself never had a hospital.  Hospital services are provided by either Altoona Hospital or Bon-Secours (formerly Mercy).  I'll update the page.Shanafme 12:56, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Hollidaysburg Mercy Hospital

message: I would be interested in hearing facts on how Anslinger turned the FBN into a powerful enforcement agency.  This article talks about his role with marijuana, but avoids mentioning the indirect role he played strengthen federal power and establishing a interstate and international enforcement agency, predating the FBI.
--Rektide 22:43, 13 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Enforcement - First Federal Enforcement Agency 

message: I am removing this paragraph. It is poorly written (poor English) and unrelated. The author of this paragraph implies that the included quote was made by opponents of Anslinger elsewhere on Wikipedia. However, it does not give reference to this alleged Wikipedia material. Nor does it show in what way the alleged opponents connected Anslinger to the Montana Standard's reporting.
Although Anslinger is mentioned many times in the referenced source material (Richard J. Bonnie & Charles H. Whitebread, "II:THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE: AN INQUIRY INTO THE LEGAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN MARIJUANA PROHIBITION"), I can find no relationship of the quote to Anslinger in that material.
Please do not reinstate this material without at least fixing the English and properly attributing the quote to the page on Wikipedia to which it allegedly refers.
The section removed follows:
His opponents has in later years claimed him for a lot of things in this process, also when it is very unlikely that he was involved. One  example from Wikipedia:
: "During the 1920s, an emerging movement of legislators, yellow journalists, and concerned citizens started pressing Washington for federal legislation against marijuana. A publication in the Montana Standard, on January 27, 1929, records progress on a bill in that state to amend the general narcotic law:" 
::"There was fun in the House Health Committee during the week when the marijuana bill came up for consideration. Marijuana is Mexican opium, a plant used by Mexicans and cultivated for sale by Indians. 'When some beet field peon takes a few rares of this stuff,' explained Dr. Fred Fulsher of Mineral County, 'he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico so he starts to execute all his political enemies...' Everybody laughed and the bill was recommended for passage." (1)
Moecazzell 05:30, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: This whole article seems slightly biased in his favor, making remarks that go out of the way to defend his legacy, several of them completely unsourced.  Agnapostate (talk) 21:28, 6 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  His opponents has in later years claimed him for a lot of things 

message: "Today he is most remembered for his campaign against marijuana, but he spent much more time working against illegal trading of heroin, opium and cocaine[1]." Source 1 is from 1953. Anslinger held office to 1962, and continued working against whatever he worked against for two more years. 80.202.31.30 (talk) 18:32, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: The statement seem to be true and even somewhat easy to verify with any book on the history drug policy or, probably, his obituary. But after checking. Yes, the source used was inadequate. Someone have probably taken the easy way and replaced a  with a random source with the hope that no one should notice. However, I think the statement in itself should stand. Steinberger (talk) 19:32, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Illogical sourcing

message: This is taken almost verbatim from Jonathon Green's book Cannabis.
"Although it would appear that Anslinger was a conservative who truly believed marijuana to be a threat to the future of American civilization, his biographer maintained that he was an astute government bureaucrat who viewed the marijuana issue as a means for elevating himself to national prominence. The two positions are not necessarily incompatible."
It also gives an skewed view of the conservative philosophy. Conservatives are for less government (i.e. less regulation). 
Furthermore Anslinger was appointed by a democrat (his political allegiance was most likely to that party). 
Look at the context of when he was appointed - 1930's...Harry Truman and New Deal democrats. This is a period of time when the government expanded, and assumed new roles in regulation.
This is clearly a liberal (gov't does more) position.
Burnedfaceless (talk) 15:57, 26 October 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: I know Wikipedia is not a blog, but I can't let this slide.  Only in recent times has the generic label "conservative" come to be identified with "libertarian" to the point of synonym.  It is both practically possible and philosophically consistent to be a social conservative and a government power-weilding bureaucrat, and also to be a social conservative, power-weilding bureaucrat in an accomodating wing of either major political party.  
Snardbafulator (talk) 05:31, 25 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Plagarism 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: This article as it reads today is massively POV in favour of Anslinger. 
It needs updating with the carefully-sourced material in Johann Hari's book Chasing The Scream, including Ansligner's war on Billy Holiday, his racist remarks when drumming up anti-marijuana panic, his misrepresentation of the medical material about marijuana at the time, his misrepresentation of the axe-murderer case, his running out of doctors who were still allowed to prescribe marijuana, etc. Garth M (talk) 04:20, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Johann Hari - Chasing The Scream 

message: The first paragraph of the article states that Anslinger was a morphine addict. There are no other references to morphine use in the article, and the citations for the first paragraph do not mention it either. In a quick Google search, I could find no references saying Anslinger ever used morphine.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.101.221.67 (talk) 19:08, 12 February 2016 (UTC)
replies: text: Might be he used painkillers in his last years when he was of poor health, but I don't think that counts as an addiction. --Sus scrofa (talk) 20:51, 12 February 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  No evidence cited, no evidence I could find that Anslinger was a morphine addict 

message: Checking out claims that Anslinger married a niece of Andrew Mellon, longtime US Treasury Secretary: 
I've confirmed that Anslinger’s wife was Martha Denniston Leet (1886-1961). Her first husband was Leet and she had a son with him named Joseph. Her grandparents were James and Martha Denniston of Hollidaysburg, PA “an old and highly respected family.” https://www.newspapers.com/image/55443642/?terms=%22martha%2Bdenniston%22 Mrs. Anslinger is called the "daughter of John Denniston, of Hollidaysburg” and mother of Joseph D. Leet here: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/57656517/ in 1927 https://www.newspapers.com/image/57708575; https://www.newspapers.com/image/55442213
(John Denniston's grave is here: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74544806 and Martha’s https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=39974060 and Harry’s too in the same cemetery: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=anslinger&GSiman=1&GScid=1640998&GRid=6382604&)
I looked at the Mellon family tree at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellon_family and see no Dennistons, or Marthas there. 
Larry Slocum in Reefer Madness puts Denniston as a child of steel fortunes, and that checks out better, as Harry Alexander Laughlin (1838-1922), son of James Laughlin of Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., married an Alice B. Denniston on 9/10/1860. 
https://books.google.com/books?id=arAfWBsvO1gC&pg=PA834&lpg=PA834 
Margaret Mellon (1901–1998), a grandniece of Andrew’s, was married to an Alexander Laughlin Jr. on 6/21/1924 and had a son with him (probably Alexander Mellon Laughlin) https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19981112&id=0IwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rG8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6616,802034;  http://old.post-gazette.com/downloads/20070701Mellon_tree_fix.pdf; (there was an Alexander Mellon Laughlin Jr. http://easthamptonstar.com/obituaries/2016609/alexander-laughlin-jr). Andrew Mellon was at their wedding, as was Miss Alice Denniston Laughlin, a daughter of James Laughlin & Alice Denniston. https://www.newspapers.com/image/88486763
Margaret’s obituary https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19981112&id=0IwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rG8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6616,802034 says her husband was the grandson of the founder of the Central Tube Co. in Ambridge. According to one account, that Alexander Laughlin was not directly descended from the Laughlin who married a Dennison; rather he was the son of another Alexander Laughlin who was born in 1866 in Wheeling, WVA.  http://www.sewickleyhistory.org/index.php/contact-us/9-uncategorised/85-who-were-the-laughlins.
So Anslinger probably married into a swanky set with some connections to the Mellons, but nothing direct. The fact that both Andrew Mellon and a Denniston were at the wedding of Margaret Mellon and Alexander Laughlin connects the families. 
UPDATE 9/14/17 - I heard back from researcher Doug McVay who writes: Thomas Mellon, Andrew's father, married Sarah Jane Negley (b. 1817) in 1843. Union Trust was established by Thomas's son Andrew W. Mellon in 1889. Samuel Philip Gerst was an assistant treasurer at Union Trust, worked there 43 years. Gerst's sister Sarah Margaret (b. 1874) married Edward C. Negley. Martha Kind Denniston Leet Anslinger's mother was Florence Gerst (b. 1861). You can find all that in a couple of hours via google.
I've seen "cousin" and "relative" used to describe the relationship between Martha Denniston and Andrew Mellon. My guess without looking is that it's likely to be something like a second or third cousin once or twice removed.
— Preceding unsigned comment added by VIPelle (talk • contribs) 06:18, 13 September 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Mrs. Harry J. Anslinger - Mellon connection?  

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: One night, in 1939, Billie Holiday stood on stage in New York City and sang Strange Fruit and was instructed to stop singing the same song; it was provocation of Holiday's self-defence, to justify the existence and budget of Anslinger's Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
The sentence above is barely coherent and is currently in the article. Nevertheless I think its underlying point (i.e., in some way and for some reason Anslinger tried to prevent Holiday from singing Strange Fruit, to which she reacted defiantly) is probably true. Somebody with ready access to Chasing the Scream should probably figure out what the source says about this and update the sentence. If I get a chance to read the book, I will do it, but for now that sentence is still in the article and it is not understandable. --Vadder (talk) 19:36, 21 February 2019 (UTC)
replies: text: It could probably be better or secondarily sourced here: https://www.npr.org/2019/08/22/753493982/looking-back-at-jazz-singer-billie-holidays-influence-on-american-music 6YearsTillRetirement (talk) 04:39, 23 August 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Billie Holiday and Strange Fruit 

message: Why not emphasis right up front that Henry Anslinger was an 'extreme racist in the 1920s
https://www.biography.com/news/billie-holiday-narcotics-us-government Kali20805 (talk) 16:19, 31 January 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Henry Anslinger was widely known as an 'extreme racist