THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY 
EDITORIAL. 
"THE  END  OF  THE  LAW  IS  OBEDIENCE." 
In  this  issue  we  publish  in  full  the  address  of  Mr.  William  L .  Crounse 
on  'Alcohol:  Its  Relation  to  Science  and  Industry,"  delivered 
before  the  recent  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso- 
ciation. In  this,  alcohol  is  properly  defined  as  the  most  important 
raw  material  used  in  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  industries  and 
the  responsibilities  of  the  pharmacists  under  the  Volstead  Act  are 
clearly  set  forth. 
Equal  prominence  is  likewise  given  to  the  account  of  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Missouri  Pharmaceutical  Association,  prepared  by 
Secretary  Whelpley.  We  would  direct  the  special  attention  of  our 
readers  to  the  following  resolution  appearing  in  this  record  as  adopted 
at  that  meeting. 
"Believing  that  the  government  committed  a  tactical  error  in 
wishing  the  liquor  business  upon  the  retail  druggist,  we,  therefore, 
do  resolve,  in  the  interest  of  law-enforcement  and  that  the  high 
standard  of  pharmacy  may  be  preserved  untarnished  to  politely 
but  very  firmly  decline  the  'honor,'  standing  pat  on  the  proposition 
that  liquor  should  be  distributed  through  the  dispensaries  owned, 
operated  and  controlled  by  the  government." 
This  stereotyped  resolution  has  probably  been  offered  before 
every  State  pharmaceutical  association  that  has  so  far  held  its  1920 
meeting  and  in  those  whose  annual  conventions  are  yet  to  come,  a 
similar  resolution  emanating  from  the  same  source  may  be  expected 
to  appear. 
It  is  only  too  evident  that  after  all  human  nature  is  not  very 
