Evening star., 1900-02-07
Mn Margaret Dye Ellis Writes to Attorney
General Griggs.
She Declares That She Finds 1t ImpOs-
sibIe to Modify Her Recent
Circular Letter.

| peTdnce Union.
81 am in receipt Of your favor of Janu-
| ary 80, and contents carefully noted.
| First, permit me say, the intent on
| the part of the National Womans Christian
| Temperance Union. which have the honor
| to represent as its superintendent of legis-
| latfon, is to be just and honest.
Your letter implies that a mfsrepresenta-
| ton and perversion of facts is set forth in
my circular letter. l think. sir, with the
| evidence in hand. this charge cannot be
sustained, and. with your permission, will
state the facts as they have come to me
| and appeal to your fairness to admit
| whether we were not justified in making
the assertions to which you take exception.
THE better class of people all over the
country, irrespective of creed section,
| were startled and shocked during the Span
| ish-American war by the deadly and de-
moralizing effects of intoxicating liquors
sold in the army canteen, and that our
soldier boys who had gone forth to fight
| their country's battles were being stricken
by hundreds and thousands in camp before
| leaving our home shores
Congress Passes Law.
"a universal cry of protest went up from
| the people, and petitions and letters and
| kilograms and memorials poured in upon
| the Congress of the United States and the
President, urging them to take such action
as would prevent these evils.
1.-The solemn statement from officers of
| the navy and the army, from the highest to
subordinate positions, of the disastrous
consequences of the sale of intoxicating
| liquors in these branches of the govern
ment'S service, were not wanting, and were
thoroughly corroborated by statements of
| the highest credibilty, carefully made from
personal observation. These facts and the
pressure were so strong and incontroverti-
BILE that Congress by almost unani-
nous vote passed an act, and the Presi-
LIANT tS qnDrnvaI
| it with his own signature.
There was no conflict among the mem
bers of Congress, composed largely of law
yers occupying distinguished positions in
their profession, and men of high culture
from other vocations in life in that body
| that this law was intended to mean and did
mean to forbid the sale of intoxicating
| liquors in the army.
Interpretation of the Act.
"a universal shout of approval went up
from all over the land at this act of Con-
gress and thanksgiving was in heart and
! upon lip when Secretary of War Alger in
obedience to the requirements of the law,
removed Intoxicating liquors from the
army. But suddenly there came the inter-
probation of the Attorney General. which
| thwarted and defeated the will of the peo-
pie in a proceeding where there was no
issue formed, no discussion and no hear
ing, and an act of Congress was declared
the authorization and Sanctioning the sale
of intoxicating liquors instead of forbid
ding the sale.
committee representing several temperance
organiza tions, a number of whom were
personally known to the President, and
whose chairman was Joshua L. Bailey of
Philadelphia, waited upon his excellency
at the White House.
"They came bearing a memorial signed
by well known citizens of the United
States, in which was set forth the views
of the delegates and those whom they rep
resented in opposition to the opinion given
by the Attorney General
The President Gave Hearing.
1.-The President received them graciousy,
listened attentively to their presentation,
and made inquiry as to whether the COM
mittee had consulted counsel. Upon being
assured this had been done, brief, pre-
pared by Col. E. F. Ritter of indianapolis,
| Ind, was left in his hands, the President
assuring the committee that the whole
matter should receive his personal exami-
nation.
After waiting two weeks. without hear
ing, and the annual meeting of the Fedora
ton of National Temperance Organizations
being about to occur, letter was sent to
the President July %. 1889, from a member
Of the committee, stating the desire to have
his decision to report at this meeting. The
following day, July 20, a telegram was re-
ing, Matter referred to Is still under con-
sideration.
ION the 9th of September a letter was
again sent to the President, asking for an
answer. but no reply being received on the
Goth of September telegram was sent in
quiring if the communication of September
8 had been received. and the reply by wire
was, Communication has been received.
Since which time, September 26, re-
sponse of any kind has been received from
the President or any one in his behalf by
any member of that committee or the pub
lie at large.
Result of reconsideration.
1.-The first response or Information Of any
kind in regard to the petition to reconsider
the construction of the anti-canteen law is
the response received by me in your favor
of January 80, which states that shortly
after this visit of the committee the Presi-
dent did refer to the Attorney General the
law mentioned, and asked him to go over
the question and reconsider his opinion
And. as you further stated, the Attorney
General did SO, and reported to the Presi-
dent that after a careful consideration of
the case he was unable to come to any con-
clusion different from that first reported
And that, Furthermore. at the request
or the President, the legal effect of the
anti-canteen law was considered by the
present Secretary of War, and that officer
concurred in the views and opinions given
to the President by the Attorney General
Declines to Modify Her Circular.
Several hundred letters have been re-
ceived in answer to my circular letter to
which you refer, from ministers of the
Gospel of every denomination, college pres
idents, professors, judges, lawyers, doctors
and every class of citizens from all over
the country. in which deep disappointment
Is expressed by each and every one that
no expression or decision has been received
from cit her the President Or his a. lviS
cerning the promise made in July last and
wonderment at the silence maintained.
In view of this fact, that no one, as far
as known outside the Presidents in1me-
diate advisers, had been informed as to the
reconsideration, was l not justified in send
ing out my circular letter requesting good
men to write the President and urge some
decision upon this momentous question?
Il respectfully submit therefore that it
will be impossible for me to modify my
circular letter by stating any other than
the real facts of the case"
DEFICIENCY ESTIMATES