Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-11
Seductive Philippine Beverages.

Among the serious problems confronting
General Otis at Manila none has caused
greater agitation than the alarming effects
produced upon American soldiers, particu-
larly the enlisted men. by seductive bev-
erage which they procured In native shops,
and which produced such physical and
mental generalization as to give rise to
suspicion that the army OF occupation was
being systematically drugged or poisoned
to render them helpless to resist an insur-
gent attack. This native drink was gen.
orally known as vino. 1t was exceedingly
palatable and inexpensive, but single
drink OF 1t unified a soldier for activeduty
for the succeeding twenty-four hours,
while frequent potations sent the soldier to
the hospital for long period of illness.
When the source Of the trouble was dis
GOV cred General Otis was disposed to pro-
hibit the traffic IN vino altogether and to
that end referred the matter to General
Hughes, Provost Marshal-Generalo Of the
city, with request for suggestions look
ing to practicable course OF action. Gen
eral Hughes investigated the trouble, and
his recommendations 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, prac-
ticaliy all the shops where it had been sold
are closed. General Hughes's ind orsemens
on the case was as follows:
HEADQUARTERS
PROVOST MARsHAL-GENERAL,
MANILA, January 18.
Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-
General, Department Of the Pacific and
Eighth Army Corps.
I have avoided all discussion OF this SUBJ
Iect until have sufficiently informed my
self Of the actual facts, and while nav in
formation is not yet as full and complete
as should like to have 1t, still feel that
| hazard nothing in what is stated below.
There are quite number OF articles on
sale at the wine shops in this city that are
about the same thing. They are whitish
liquor, and usually favored; and some-
times tinted by some innocent elements.
They are called numerous names-anisado,
vino, beno, Scotch whisky, etc. The base
OF all Of them Is simply alcohol. CONNER
cial alcohol is manufactured here extern
sively 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 any
other Intoxicating drink can be produced.
The vino venders take this alcohol Of COM
merce and dilute 1t, perhaps add cheap
havoring, may be an innocent coloring ele-
ment, and sell it under any name they see
At to bestow upon it. Any one familiar
with the old bottle trade can tell about it
by giving the various prices of labelled and
not labelled bottles. "A Scotch whisky
bottle with perfect label is very differ
ent article of trade from one Of the same
kind without label.
The police are instructed to endeavor to
suppress the sale of these strong alcoholic
drinks to our soldiers, and persons found
selling them to American soldiers have
their permits revoked. There are occa-
sionally shops that get fruit alcohol and
put it on sale as beverage. This material
ls,apt to produce q very. delirious. or con-
fused condition. Wherever 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 effort
of this office to take su .h measures as will
prevent recurrence.