The times., 1899-04-10
THE BATTLE-AXE
HAS been Laid AWAY
W. c. T. L. Flies the White
Flag of Peace.
The Army Canteen Question Thing
of The Past.
President Mckinley VIII Not He Ask
ed 10 Interfere With the At
torncy Generals Opinion.

The Womsn's Christian Temperance
Orion has laid away its batue-axe and
has determined that the President of the
United States shall be spared. The ladies
have bathed of their war paint and
put their war plumes in cold storage. Their
angry tones have ceased and soft words
fall from their gentle lips.
The members of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union of the District of Co.
lumbia are not spending any sleepless
nights because of the recent opinion OF the
Attorney General that strong drink may b.
sold to soldiers al post canteens. A re-
porter called on several of the ladies yes
terday and found them to be particularly
calm. They were resigned.
IF the souls OF the soldiers go below be-
cause of the curse OF alcohol" said one
lady, Il can face my Maker with the proud
consciousness that I did my best TO twist
the tail of the devil" After this speech
she folded her white hands in the lap of
her silken gown and cast her gaze up to
the ceiling as though she would find saints
and angels there. The ". c. T. U. has
retired from the contest The chilliness
OF the President has frosted their ardor.
The Attorney General on April an
nouneed an opinion on the act passed by
Congress regulating the matter of the sale
OF whisky al army post exchanges and can
teens. This opinion was rendered in ac-
cordance with a request of the Secretary
OF War, who wanted 10 know whether the
statute prohibited the sale of beer by the
Government in the canteen section Of the
post exchanges which are maintained at
The various army posts and encampments
throughout the United States. The Attor-
ney General declared that the law which
he was called on to interpret consists Of
three parts, as follows:
First-That no officer or private soldier shall
be detailed 70 sell intoxicating drinks las bar
tender or otherwise, in any post exchange or
canieen
second-Nor shall any other person be required
OF allowed TO sell such Liquors in any encamp-
ment OF fort any premises used for military
purposes by the United states
Third-And the Secretary Of War is hereby d.
fected to issue such general order may be neces-
tarF 10 carry the provisions Of this section into
full force and effect.
In presenting his opinion the Attorney
General said: IF this act was intended
10 be entirely prohibitory of the sale OF
intoxicating drinks in post exchanges or
canteens. as well as in encampments. forts,
and other premises used for military pur-
posees, then, to say the least, Congress
used very circuitous route 10 reach that
point and employed many superfluous
words TO enact a very simple provision,
which could have been stated in single
sentence"
The opinion concluded as follows:
Tho act having forbidden the employment Of
soldiers b1rfenders or salesznen Of intoxicating
drinks, It would be lawful and appropriate for
The managers of the pos; exchanges TO employ
civilians for that purpose. OF course, employ
inent Is a matter Of contract, and not Of re-.
Tirer1eDt or permission. The regulation Of the
post exchanges and canteens being within the
power Of the Secretary Of War. the act means
that be shall by order modify the regulations upon
that subject 20 Il 10 make them consistent witt
the provisions Of this act To that end. 1t will
be requisite that he shall determine the question
Of the persons who may be employed in the post
exchanges, and such other conditions and require
monts in connection herewith as his good iudg-
nient shall dictate.
This opinion disturbed the w c. T. u.
II simply riled the ladies. They put on
their warpath bonnets and bullet-proof
waists and determined to undo the Attor-
ncy General. They would draw up some
resolutions and resolute him off the earth.
At the quarterly conference of the union,
the secretary, Mrs. Shelton. WAS author
lien to confer with President Mckinley
Gnd arrange for a conference between the
Executive and a delegation from the W. C,
r. u.
Mrs. Shelton did not go TO the White