PINK PILLS PREFERRED

The disinterested upholders of American ideals who have joined pocket-books in opposition to the Tugwell-Copeland Food and Drug Bill are slowly but surely completing a masterpiece in the history of effective lobbies. Following the accepted formula, these patriots first set up a tremendous wail, protesting in the name of all the well known "American rights" and an individualism whose ruggedness apparently claims the right to poison with governmental approbation. Failing this first move, they have now stooped to the more effective course of preventing public mention of the topic until wavering congressmen can be persuaded that it is worth their while not to be too serious concerning the public welfare.

The merits of the bill are of course, self evident, but the really decisive argument for its passage is offered by a casual scrutiny of the opposition lobby. It is no surprise to find the compounders of ineffective panaceas, love charms, unmentionables, and spurious venereal disease cures on this role d'honneur--for the passage of the bill would render them criminals. The participation of the backers of such widely used and palpably respectable products as Castoria, Midol, Cascarets, Crazy Crystals, and Ovaltine is the significant fact. This is patently a confession of deceptive advertising which can and must eventually be eliminated by governmental powers such as the bill in question would create.

But, for the present, necromancy has scored over the public. The American Press, however jealous of constitutional encroachments on its liberty, stands strangely apathetic to the Common Weal when threatened with loss of fat advertising contracts. Over three months have elapsed without action on the Bill, and daily it sinks further into the background as other issues arise to command the attention of the administration. In another three months of carefully regulated silence the Tugwell-Copeland Bill, like so many other good but "inopportune" measures, will die amidst the rejoicing of the quacks and their advertising confreres.