Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1918 — FACTS OF INTEREST CONCERNING DRY LAW. [ARTICLE]

FACTS OF INTEREST CONCERNING DRY LAW.

The state of Indiana will become dry officially at 12 o’clock Tuesday night, April 2, under a law enacted by the supreme court. With the exception of a few months prior to 1855 Indiana has had saloons, breweries and distilleries for mote than 100 years. Two statutory state-wide prohibition laws have been enacted since the state was admitted to the Union in 1816. One of the laws was held unconstitutional in 1855 in the now famous Beebee case. The other is the law that becomes effective Tuesday and which will close about forty breweries, hundreds of saloons and a number of the largest distilleries in America. The new law is one of the bone dry variety wihich has found favor with the radical prohibitionists. Although enacted more than a year ago the numerous provisions of the law were little understood. What can and can not be done under the law follows: The sale, manufacture, barter, gift or exchange of liquor after April 2, except for medicinal, mechanical and scientific purposes is prohibited. The theory on which the law is based is that it is an “exercise of the police powers of the state, for the protection of the economic welfare, health, peace and morals of the people.” It repeals all local option laws. It definies all intoxicating liquors as beverages containing to exceed Va of 1 per cent of alcohol. It prohibits the sale of . patent medicines with high alcoholic content, where they are to be used as a beverage. It prohibits the sale or manufacture of powders that might be used as a mixtrue in making intoxicating drinks. It does not prohibit an individual from making wine or cider for his own use. It does not prohibit a man from serving liquor to a guest at his own home. No one shall receive shipments of liquor from outside the state unless he holds a' perm^. No sale of liqtior may be advertised in Indiana in any manner. It is unlawful for agents of liquor houses to solicit in Indiana or or to solicit by catalogues through the mail.

The holding of a United States tax receipt is prima facie evidence that the holder is engaged in the sale of liquor. A man testifying regarding the violation of the law by others becomes exempt from prosecution. A druggist may sell only pure grain alcohol for medicinal, mechanical or scientific purposes and wine for sacramental use. He can not sell any common form of intoxicating drinks under any conditions. A druggist may sell wine for sacramental purposes on application of the clergyman or church officer. A druggist is required to keep an accurate list of all sales of liquor for public inspection at any time. Twice a year a druggist must file a sworn statement of his sales of alcohol and wine with the county clerk. A druggist may be fined from SSO to SSOO and sentenced to jail for a term of from ten days to one .year for violation of the law. The State Board of Pharmacy shall revoke a druggist’s license for violation of the law. Five voters of a township or city may file charges before the state board of pharmacy against a druggist and bring him to trial. Any licensed physician is authorized to write a prescription for pure grain alcohol. A physician can prescribe liquor only for medicinal use. A physician cannot prescribe wine for medicinal use. , A physician can only prescribe pure grain alcohol for medicinal use. The physician must name in his prescription the quantity of liquor to be bought, the name of the person for whom it is intended and the directions for its use. A druggist must cancel every prescription for liquor when filled. A physician cannot give liquor away.