The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-18
MANILA WHISKY
Proves Disastrous to American Sol
diers Who Imbibe.

New York, April 1S.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Among the serious problems confront
ing Gen. Otis at Manila none has caused
greater agitation than the alarming eff
fects produced upon. American soldiers,
particularly the enlisted men, by a Sc
ductive beverage which they procured
in native shops and which produced
such physical and mental demoraliza-
ton as to give rise to a suspicion that
the army of occupation was being sys-
tematically drugged or poisoned to rem
der them helpless to resist an insurgent
attack. This native drink was gener-
ally known as vino. 1t was exceedingly
palatab BILE and inexpensive, but a single
drink of it untitled soldier for active
duty for the succeeding tWenty-fOur
hours, while frequent pOtions sent the
soldiers to the hospital for a long period
of illness When the source of the trOu-
BILE was discovered Gen. Otis was dis
posed to prohibit the traffic in vino al
together and to that end referred the
matter to Gen. Hughes, provost marshal
general of the city, with request for
suggestions looking to practicable
course of action. Gen. Hughes investi-
gated the trouble and his recommended
lions have been followed.
AS long as Manila was crowded with
troops the vino industry, unrestricted,
was exceedingly lucrative, but now that
most of the Americans are in the field,
practically all the shops where it had
been sold are closed. Gen. Hughes en-
dorsement on the case was as follows:
Il have avoided all discussion of this
subject until 1 have sufficiently in
formed myself of the actual facts, and
while my information is not yet as full
and complete as L would like to have it,
still feel that l hazard nothing in what
is stated below.
There are quite a number of articles
on sale at the wineshops in this city
that are about the same thing. They
are a whitish liquor and usually fla
vOred and sometimes tinted by some in
nOcent elements. They are called num-
erous names-anisadO, vino, beno,
Scotch whisky, etc. The base of all of
them is simply alcohol. Commercial al
cOhOl is manufactured here extensively
from the refuse of sugar houses. 1t is
very pure and strong and can be sold
at a price that is far below that at
which other Intoxicating drinks can be
produced. The wine vendors take this
alcohol of commerce and dilute it, per-
haps adding a cheap favoring, maybe
an innocent cOlOring element, and sell
it under any name that they see fit to
bestoW upon it. Anyone familiar with
the old bottle trade can tell about it
and not labeled bottles. A Scotch
whisky bottle with perfect label is a
Very different article of trade from one
of the same kind without a label.
Now, are we expected to sweep alco-
hol from the list of manufactures in or
der to prevent a few Uncontrolled men
from getting drunk? These men want
alcohol and in this form they can get
it stronger and chea per than they can
get it in beer, and so they elect to take
it. The natives take it, but in modera-
ton and with discretion, and we have
no trouble with them on account of it
whatever. The police are instructed to
endeavOr to suppress the sale of these
strong alcoholic drinks to your soldiers.
and persons found selling them to
American soldiers have their permits
revoked. There are occasionally shops
that get fruit alcohol and put it on sale
as a beverage. This material is apt to
produce a very deliriOus or confused
condition. Where such shops are found
the police are to withdraw the licenses
from the places. If commanders will be
careful to report the places where men
have obtained the drink which produces
the effect mentioned it shall be the eff
fort of this office to take such measures
as will prevent a recurrence. 1t has oc-
CURED to me that local comma nders
might do much themselves to control
their men. A plan which commends it
self to me would be somewhat as fol-
lows:
Observe the shops in their vicinity
where their men get alcohol and where
they loaf. Declare in orders that shops
designating them distinctly-are out
of bounds of liberty land by arresting
and Furnishing these uncontrolled men
for non conformity, much of the evil
might be dissipated. But this is a mat
ter for the consideration of commanders
and is only given as a suggestion that
might lead to better condition of
things