Washington sentinel., 1899-03-04
The Canteen Wiped Ont in the
Senate.

The amendment made by the
Senate Military Committee to the
Hull Army bill, permitting the sale
oi malt liquors in canteens and
military posts, has, upon motion
OF Senator Hansbrough, been
wiped out and the old prohibition
section restored.
The principal advocates Of pro-
hibition of the canteen were the
notorious crank, the Rev. Mr..
Crafts, Of PIttsburg and Washing
ton, and the New York Votce.
They were the authors Of hundreds
Of petitions sent to Congress in
favor OF depriving the soldiers OF a
glass of beer, and had, in their
usual impudent way ,labored Tor its
passage. We are glad to say that
the Senate Military Committee,
under its able and humane chair
man, old Gen. ]. x. Hawley, could
not be intimidated by them. They
soon found out that Gen. Hawley
was in favor OF the sale Of beer.
and ioI thwith letters were sent cut
to induce his constituents to get
him in line again. Here's speci
men oil the letters sent out:
Office of
The Connecticut Temperance Union
Rockville, Conn, Feb II, 1899.
Dear SIR
You have probably shared the joy OF
thousands that the "Hull Army Bill,
providing for the abolition OF the can
teen, passed the United States House of
Representative last week. Yet the bill
is in danger. 1t is in the hands of the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs Of
which Gen. J. R.Hawley, OF Connecticut,
is Chairman. Strange to say he has
declared himself in favor Of the contin-
uance of the canteen and the sale OF beer
to soldiers, and has said that his COM
mittee would so report. He may recon
slider this decision if good many of his
constituents request him to do so. Please
write bim a personal letter addressed
to Washington, d. c. expressing your
strong desire for the passage of the
"Hull Bill" II you can induce any OF
your neighbors, voters, to do so also
please bring 10 bear all the pressure you
can.
Yours tor the boys in blue,
T. H JAMES,
sec. Conn. Temperance Union.
Dear Brother;-
The matter to which Mr.. James thus
calls our attention seems TO us very
important. We wish that you as voter
would write Gen. Hawley expressing
your earnest desire for the passage OF
the Hull Bill"
sincerely yours,
REV. r. A DAVENPORT,
c. N. PAYNE.
We did all we could in opposi.
tion to the prohibitionists. Some
of our friends, to whom we had
written, also sent petitions and let
tiers to the Senate Military Com
mittee. But they were but few.
Although the committee remained
firmly by its action, there was no
one in the Senate interested
enough to oppose the Hansbrough
amendmeAt when it was offered,
and the House prohibitive section
was restored. No one having
asked us to oppose the canteen
prohibition in the Senate, we left
the work to those employed tor
that purpose. We remembered,
too, that when, after remaining all
night at the Capitol, we succeeded
in killing the Morse bill with the
aid OF Senator Hill, we not only
failed to receive any credit for our
own work but even Senator Hill
was robbed Of his laurels and the
recognition that was his due was
given to others entirely undeserv-
ing. We will be excused then whe n
we decline any longer to press our
services upon those who do not
appreciate, and perhaps do not de-
sire, them.
The principal argument which
induced the Senate committee to
avor the sale oi beer at canteens
and Soldiers Homes was report
of Gen. Patrick, Governor OF the
Dayton Home, from which we