Am.  Jour.  Pharru.  \ 
February,  1901.  / 
Pharmacy  Legislation. 
71 
truth  to  say  that  its  fate  is  settled  when  this  committee  is  selected. 
State  associations  have  numerous  offices  wherein  merely  ornamental 
members  may  be  safely  lodged,  but  on  its  legislative  committee  it 
needs  its  most  resourceful,  most  energetic  and  most  earnest  men. 
WORK  UPON  THE  ABSENTEES  AND  NON-MEMBERS. 
Immediately  following  the  adjournment  of  the  State  meeting  a 
circular  letter  should  be  addressed  to  the  druggists  of  the  State, 
whether  members  of  the  association  or  not,  stating  briefly  what 
has  been  done  and  asking  their  co-operation  in  securing  the  passage 
of  the  bill.  The  principal  changes  proposed  in  the  law  should  be 
explained,  and  care  should  be  taken  to  state  that  the  interests  of 
those  already  in  business  will  not  be  affected  deleteriously  by  its 
enactment.  The  circular  should  be  conciliatory  in  tone,  and  calcu- 
lated to  allay  the  opposition  of  those  druggists  who  are  always  on 
the  alert  to  discover  evil  in  measures  proposed  by  others  than  them- 
selves. 
SELECTING  A  SPONSOR  FOR  THE  BILL. 
The  next  important  step  is  the  selection  of  the  proper  person  to 
introduce  the  bill  into  the  general  assembly.  This  is  a  matter  of 
vital  importance,  since  a  mistake  in  the  selection  of  a  champion  may 
jeopardize  or  even  defeat  the  measure. 
In  fixing  upon  the  proper  person  to  introduce  the  bill  the  follow- 
ing considerations  should  be  kept  in  mind : 
He  should  be  a  man  of  learning  and  ability,  popular  with  his 
associates  and  preferably  one  who  has  had  prior  legislative  expe- 
rience. 
He  should  be  personally  interested  in  the  bill,  a  believer  in  its 
merits,  and  willing  to  devote  time  and  energy  toward  securing  its 
enactment. 
He  should  be  a  member  of  a  strong  delegation,  i.  e.y  should  be 
from  some  city  or  district  which  has  a  large  representation  in 
the  general  assembly.  As  a  member  can  usually  command  the 
unanimous  support  of  his  own  delegation,  and  as  the  influence  of  a 
large  delegation  is  important,  other  delegations  having  measures  to 
pass  will  be  chary  of  opposing  the  pharmacy  bill. 
The  bill  should  be  first  introduced  into  that  branch  of  the  general 
assembly    which  it  would  have  the  most  difficulty  in  passing  if 
