Evening star., 1899-04-14
THE ARMY CANTEEN,
Letter to the President Asking Him
to Issue an Order.

The following letter was sent to the
president by Edward H. Jones, grand chief
Templar of the L. o. G. T. of the District
of Columbia, dated the 11th instant:
In common with many other citizens of
this republic L supposed that section II
OF the Hull army bill, when enacted into
law, would absolutely inhibit the sale of
all liquors of every character upon all
ground used by the United States for mill
tary purposes. Consequently, the ruling
OF the Attorney General was the source of
considerable surprise. I recognize, how
ever, lts binding force, and understand that
the executive cannot overrule or set aside
a decision of his highest legal adviser.
see by The Evening Star of this city,
under date OF April TO- that THE War De-
partment today issued the order to the
commandants of all United States mill
tary posts to carry out the law of the last
congress relative to the sale of intoxicants
in canteens." By this same authority i
see this comment: THE only change of
substance is that hereafter no officer or
enlisted man, but only civilian employees.
may dispense beer in the canteens, but, as
this Is the general practice at present even
that is not of great importance"
Now, Mr.. President, you are as popular
with the masses as any man who ever oc-
cupied the White House. And one of the
chief causes of that immense personaI
popularity is the readiness with which YOU
have heard the voice of the people. This
desire to obtain the sentiment of the mass
es has been manifested upon many occa-
sions, and every such occasion has re-
bounded to your good.
When congress passed the Hull bill, en-
Dodylng that measure into law ii was
clearly the intention Of the national leg
islature to prohibit the sale of LIQUOR at
army post canteens. AS authority for that
statement allow me to quote Senator Hans
brough Evening Star, April .: And the
employment of a civilian to sell LIQUOR in
the canteen would, 1 know be a violation
OF the spirit and DurDose of fha whole
section" If, then, the laV enacted by Con-
gress fails, through faulty construction. to
do that which it was intended to do, 1t is
not reflex of the sentiment of that body
or of the country.
The sentiment of the country Is undoubt-
edIy hostile to the retention of the can
teen, defining canteen by it's generally ac-
cepted meaning. The public cannot under
stand why 1t should be retained In the
army, yet prescribed in the navy. Had not
Congress passed the Hull bill containing
the disputed section, you might be justified
IN thinking that the sentiment of the peo-
pie was not aVerSe to it's continuance de-
spite the numerous petitions that have
been sent you. But the passage of that
bill places different aspect upon the sttu-
alton, and shows the clear intent Of Con-
greSs.
The best interests of the men demand the
suppression of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors upon all ground used by the United
States for military purposes the best in
terests of the army, collectively, demand
1t; and now the sentiment Of the country
demands 1t.
Consequently. on behalf of the Good
Templars Of the District of Columbia and
OF the United States, ] most urgently re-
quest that you use the power vested lin
you by the Constitution of the United
States, as commander-fn-chief of the army
and navy and issue an order inhibiting the
sale of Intoxicating liquors upon all
ground used by the United States for mill
tary purposes.