Demon Exorcised

Like many another State, Virginia requires its public schools to teach the harmful effects of alcohol. But two years ago the State General Assembly went further, commissioned University of Virginia's Dr. James Alexander Waddell and Medical College of Virginia's Dr. Harvey Bernhardt Haag to prepare a scientific treatise on alcohol's effects. Two months ago Drs. Waddell & Haag submitted their report to the State Board of Education, which warmly endorsed the work, sent it to the General Assembly for approval as a textbook. In no time at all the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Anti-Saloon League and Virginia's churches had raced to Richmond to raise a clamor in the legislative halls.

The book, Alcohol in Moderation and Excess, said that abuse of alcohol led to all kinds of social, moral and physical ills, warned that moderate drinking might lead to excessive drinking. But Authors Waddell & Haag were constrained to add that modern scientific thought held the moderate use of alcohol "does not shorten the life span and probably plays no important part in the perpetration of lawlessness," that, indeed, it helped digestion, gave bibbers a "lift," produced "a feeling of self-satisfaction and physical well-being."

Mrs. Martha N. Brookings, legislative representative of the W. C. T. U., cried in horror: "The book does not refer to alcohol as a poison." Senator Charles T. Moses snapped: "Certain scientific facts may be misleading and damaging to young minds." Senator Vivian Page shrilled: "We should teach the children that their first drink will be their worst." Thereupon the Senators unanimously banned the book from Virginia's schools. Last week, in a final effort to exorcise rum from Virginia, they ordered that copies of the book, printed as a Senate document, be destroyed. To the authors they hastily returned all copyright privileges, leaving Drs. Waddell & Haag free to offer the books to schools in other States if they dared.

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