72  Pharmacy  Legislation.  {A^SSS^mL' 
much  opposition  be  manifested.  This  is  recommended  for  the 
reason  that  -the  opposition  will  not  at  first  have  had  time  to  organ- 
ize their  forces,  and  also  because  those  who  are  opposed  to  legisla- 
tive measures  generally  make  their  greatest  effort  when  the  bill  is 
put  upon  its  final  passage.  If  the  bill  is  successful  in  this  part  of 
its  course,  it  will  have  added  prestige  and  the  advantage  of  being 
in  the  house  of  its  friends  when  the  strongest  assault  is  made  upon 
it. 
WORK  AFTER  THE    BILL  IS  INTRODUCED. 
The  real  work  of  the  committee  on  legislation  begins  after  the 
bill  has  been  introduced  into  the  general  assembly.  This  work  is 
to  convert  a  majority  of  the  members  of  both  houses  to  the  belief 
that  the  bill  is  a  clean,  honest  measure,  that  its  enactment  will 
prove  a  public  benefit,  and  that  it  is  generally  desired  throughout 
the  State  by  those  who  are  in  the  practice  of  pharmacy.  If  this 
impression  can  be  made  upon  the  minds  of  a  majority  of  the  assem- 
blymen, success  is  assured. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  not  one  member  in  ten  will  read 
the  bill,  unless  he  has  been  specially  requested  to  do  so  by  some 
interested  constituent.  Most  of  them  will  rely  upon  the  statements 
of  those  who  have  the  bill  in  charge  for  their  information  as  to  its 
contents  and  purpose.  If  the  measure  seems  to  be  generally  popu- 
lar with  men  in  whom  they  have  confidence,  they  will  conclude 
that  it  is  a  meritorious  one,  and  will  give  it  their  support.  Other- 
wise they  will  either  hold  aloof  from  it  or  vote  with  the  opposition. 
Among  the  most  efficient  means  of  favorably  influencing  the 
members  of  the  legislature  are  the  following  : 
(1)  Resolutions  by  local  associations  and  the  colleges.  Every 
pharmaceutical  association  and  every  college  and  school  of  phar- 
macy in  the  State  should  meet  and  adopt  resolutions  in  favor  of 
the  bill,  and  forward  them  to  the  delegation  from  the  county  or  dis- 
trict in  which  the  society  or  college  is  located. 
(2)  Personal  letters  from  prominent  pharmacists  in  every  part  of 
the  State  to  the  members  from  their  respective  districts,  soliciting 
their  support.  Nothing  is  so  effective  with  a  member  of  the  as- 
sembly as  a  letter,  or  several  of  them,  from  one  or  more  of  his 
constituents.  It  matters  but  little  what  the  form  of  the  letter  is, 
provided  it  expresses  the  fact  that  its  writer  is  in  favor  of  the 
