Washington sentinel., 1899-08-05

are at once sent up to guard house, to
remain until the next morning, without
having had an opportunity to kick up a
row in town, or on their way home, or
along the avenues Of the Home.
Still another result: The beer we
furnish is OF the very best, and the man
who gets intoxicated on it today is mt to
be turned out tomorrov v morning at 8
o'clock with a clear head and ready Tor
duty, whereas a town drunk renders
man unfit for duty two, three and tour
days.
Once more: The cry that less money
would be sent by pensioners and em'
ployes to their families is disposed OF oy
the showing Of treasurer's report and
that OF the postmaster.
The discipline and good order OF the
Home have never been as good as no"
within the last six or seven years at least
nor have the men been as contented.
am happy to say that candid men
and women OF the most intense prohiol'
tion proclivities, who have been here at
the Home and in Dayton, making
investigation fairly on the spot nave
decided that under :he circumstances
il is best to leave the home authorities
10 the exercise OF their own Judgment
in this matter
AS we find Il necessary we place
restrictions upon hundreds Of our men,
some being entirely debaTred from the
beer hall and others being limited to
one OK two glasses. according to their
physical, mental, or moral condition.
1t is the opinion of every officer ofthis
Home, whether prohibitionist or other
wise, that under existing circumstances
the beer hall has reduced vice, crime
debauchery, sickness, and the waste OF
money, that should go to the families of
members, in a very marked degree.
Very respectfully,
M. R PATRICK,
Governor.
We did all we could in opposi-
ton to the Prohibitionists before
the committee. Some Of our
friends to whom we had written
also sent petitions and letters to the
Senate Military Committee. But
they were lew and far between.
Even the United States Brewers
Association failed TO raise a hand,
as they admit ia their annual re.
port, and remained entirely passive
from the beginning. Although the
committee made a favorable re-
port there was no one in the Senate
interested enough to oppose the
Hansbrough amendment when it
was offered, and the House pro
hibitive section was restoreed. The
bill became a law, and the canteen
seemed doomed. AT the urgent
request of numerous officers and
friends OF the canteen we made a
strong plea to circumvent the law,
pointing out that there was flaw
in its provisions, which did not
prohibit the sale OF intoxicants by
civilians. An examination con-
6rmed Attorney General Griggs,
whose opinions on the mesure had
been requested by the War De-
partment, in this view, and he
handed down a decision on the
construction of the law which cor
responded fully with the iuterpre-
tation proposed by the SENTINEL,
Guided by this opinion General
Order 90 was issued, so chang
ing the former regulation as to
permit the sale in canteens OF light
wines and beer by civilians and not
soldiers.
Although there was not even a
favorable mention given US at the
recent Convention OF the Brewers
in Detroit, nevertheless we are
confident that this was an oversight
on their part. We are aware that
all who understand the nature Of
our work, whether affected or not
in a pecuniary sense by the deci-
sion which results from our labors,
appreciate and highly commend
our efforts in their behalf. The
German press, which so frequently
quotes the SENTINEL and praises
Its work. keeps those that do not
subscribe to this paper informed.
Even our opponents, the prohi-
bitionists, give credit to whom
credit is due, as the following
editorial from the V0iCS, which we
again publish, will prove:
FTO,s the Nsw YORK Voiee.
WHERE ALGER GOT THE NULAIFIcATIoN
IDEA.
Washington, d. c., July I3 Especial