Evening star., 1900-03-30
A Hearing Before the House Insular
Committee.
TEMPERANCE REPRESENTATIVES TALK
Increase in Number of Saloons in
Manila Alleged.
WANT FILIPINOS PROTECTED

The House committee on insular affairs
gave a hearing today to representatives of
the temperance and prohibition societies Of
the United States upon the alleged growing
evil of the liquor traffic in the Philippines
and other insular possessions of this gov
ernment.
The statement was made that since the
occupancy of the Philippines by the Amer
leans drunkenness, which was practically
unknown in Manila, has become prevalent,
and that the hitherto innocent natives, who
were formerly very abstemious. are rapidly
falling into the bibulous habits of the Amer
lean soldiers.
Testimony was adduced to the effect
that when the Americans reached Manila
there were only three or four saloons, SELL
ing light wines, while now there are 45O
to 800 saloons where American customs OBJ
tain and whisky and beer are sold.
Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts of the Reform
League addressed the committee, bringing
out these statements, and quoted former
Consul Edwards as saying that the use or
intoxicants in the tropics means insanity.
He had no doubt that the increase of in
sanity among the troops was due to the use
of liquor. He quoted Prof. Schurman Of the
late Philippine commission on the growth of
the liquor business.
Blamed the President.
Rev. ]. B. Dunn, representing the Nation
al Temperance Society and the Presby yterian
Union, read extracts from various religious
and secular papers of the country, blaming
the President for the ''saturnalia of de-
bauchery'' existing in Manila, alleging that
he could prohibit the Importation of liquors
into the Philippines. He also quoted from
journals of the liquor trade that beer and
whisky go with the flag into our new pos
sessions" and also that as one result of
our occupation of Manila the liquor busi-
ness has reached enterprising proportions
and is a respectable business" Mr.. Dunn
said that Manila has been transformed into
saloon city and that this is with the
knowledge and consent of the Washington
authorities.
rs this the benevolent assimilation of
which the President has had SO much to
say?' asked Mr.. Dunn. We have sup
pressed the cock-fgtits and opened wide the
rum shops Mr.. Dunn read a letter from
Gen. Otis, which denied the statement that
Manila is given over to drunkenness and
debauchery. Gen. Otis said he was reduc-
ing the number of saloons. and that the ex-
cesses of the visiting soldiers We're always
punished. Gen. Otis said that the Filiptnos
were very fond of their wine and had com
piained of the reduction of the number of
drinking places licenses for which were
freely granted under the Spanish regime
Charge Against the Military Authori-
ties.
Rev. E. c. Dinwiddie OF the Anti-Saloen
League sdiu tHdl lne military authorities
could have controlled the situation, but
that falling to do So the advocates of tenn
perance now come to Congress
He quoted an article from the Wine and
Spirit News, showing that the principal
business street of Manila, which formerly
contained but two saloons, now has over
300 saloons, and Is a regular rum row.
The receipts Of the principal saloon were
about 500 a night. Another newspaper
article was quoted to the effect that the
receipts of one army regimental canteen
were $1,IOO in one day, probably pay day.
One agent of a beer brewery had sold 5000
barrels of beer in one day.
s. L. Nicholson of Baltimore represent-
Ing the Maryland Temperance union said
that this was proper subject for legis1a-
ton. Civilization would be retarded by ex-
tension of the liquor business.
Represented 100000 Women.
Mrs. Ellis of the National Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union said she represent
ed 100000 women who believe that where
liquor goes the betterment of the human
race would not follow.
I'VE ask you in the name of God and
humanity she said, ITO give those poor
Filipinos protection from the whisky
traffic
DR.. Fisk said he had rejoiced at the idea
OF American civilization going into the
Philippines.
But ! stand appalled, he said, ITO see
that the first American institution to get
thoroughly grounded in Manila is the Amer
ican saloon, that most fearful instrument
of vice. Is that the way we are to give
HiN ttya fiI,1Nt Z