Washington sentinel., 1899-03-04

was opened here IN the Home IoI eu'
benefit Of its members.
AS is we'll known in the Board, 1t was
a matter that had been under discussion
for years. In the Army, 1t has been the
usage to sell beer certainly tor more than
half a century, and for several years u
know not how many, at other orancnes
OF the National Home.
For some reason, know not what,
terrible outcry was made through tue
press. through the mails, and by personal
appeals to the governor, tor the reureSS
of this outrage upon the members Oh 'he
Central Branch and upon the interests OIL
good order, good morals, and religion
| generally
The statistics and records OF this
branch Tor the past year speak Tor tnen'
| selves:
The official report of Hon. Ira Craw-
ford, mayor OF Dayton, gives the number
of arrests Of our members from July ~
1885, TO July I, 1886, as 4s6. while Tor the
same length OF time after the beer nan
was opened Ouly II, 1886 to July I'IoS7J'
as PA, difference Of ara.
The surgeon reports that the smar
number treated for alcoholism TINS year
(I4), as compared with 3S in 1886 ana 3S
in 1855, is without doubt, in his opinion,
to be credited to The less number Oh
members who are given 10 protracted
debsuChes and bad liquor since the open
ing OF the beer hall. Only such cases
as can not with safety be treated out oI
hospital are brought to hospital for treat
ment after a spree, and those treated IN
camp, especially at the guard house. are
not One.fifth as many this year as IN
former years.
That large number OF our men Will
drink to excess when they have the
opportunity is true, and Notwithstanding
the watchfulness OF our employees at the
beer hall these shrewd old topers will
manage to get tight; but on leaving the
beer hall, ifthey show intoxication,they
are IT once sent up to guard house, to
remain until the next morning, without
haYing had an opportunity to kick up
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 fit to
be turned out tomorrow morning at /
8 O'Clock with a clear head and ready |
for duty, whereas a town drunk renders |
a man unfit for duty two, three and four
days
Once more: The cry that less money /
would be sent by pensioners and en-
ployes to their families is disposed ofby |
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 now
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 ofthe most intense prohibi-
tion proclivities, who have been here at
the Home and in Dayton, making
fairly on the spot, have
decided that under The circumstances
il is best TO leave the Home authorities
TO the exercise OF their own judgment
in this matter.
As we find it necessary we place
upon hundreds Of our men,
some being entirely deoarred from the
beer hall and others being limited to
one or two glasses, according to their
mental. or moral condition,
1t is the opinion OF every officer OF this
Home, whether prohlbit1onist or other
wise. that under existing circumstances
the beer hall has reduced vice, crime,
sickness, and the waste OF
that should go to the families OF
in a very marked degree,
Very respectfully,
M r. PATRICK,
Governor.