The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-10-19
W. W.C.T.U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED By Mrs. M. l.. HOBBS.
Congress and the Canteen Question.

some OF the papers when are uls-
posed to shield the President are
pointing out that it is not so much
his fault that the Griggs law is be-
ing disregarded as it is the fault Of
the trainers of the law and the con-
gress which passed it. They claim
that the law was made ambiguous
on purpose, and was passed with
that knowledge in order to deceive
the people. There certainly seems
to be some room for this interpreta-
ton of the matter at least the Ian
guage is of such a nature as to ad-
nit of two interpretations, which no
law should ever be. If this is not
the case it is time that some of the
men who voted for the law come
out and say how they understood it,
and what they intended to do by
voting for it. Congress may de-
ceive the people fol few years, but
cannot deceive all the people all the
time. There will be time when
the people will have the opportunity
to show their appreciation Of such
deception, and it is the duty of all
good men to see that such legisla-
tors are left at home. The respon-
sibility for this iniquitous law
should be placed on the right per-
sons and they may be made TO suf-
fer for it in the next election.-Bap-
ltist Argus.
We are not acquainted with the
Baptist Argus; do not even know
where it is published; but the above
article from it from it we find in the
Temperance department of the
Baptist Outlook, of this city, with
no dissent or comment thereon,
which is equivalent to endorsement
by the latter paper. 1t is an effort
to remove the responsibility from
the President for annuling the anti
canteen law, and for cunning de-
ceit could haidly be surpassed by
the most unprincipled partisan ad-
ministration organ in the country.
But there are certain OF the "re-
Iligious" papers, determined to sup
port Mckinley for second term,
that feel the necessity for cleaning
lup his record, and apparently are
willing to resort to misrepresenta-
ton and downright lying for this
purpose.
"The language (of the law is Of
such nature as to admit OF two in
lterpretations. Well, here it is.
Read it again, and see if there is
any doubt about the intent, or if
any new law could be formulated
that would be palmer:
"That no officer or private sol
dier shall be detailed to sell intoxi-
ca'ing drinks as bartender or
otherwise, in any post, exchange or
canteen, nor shall any other person
be required or allowed to sell such
liquors in any encampment or fort,
or on any premises used for military
purposes by the United States, and
THE secretary Of war is directed to
issue such general orders as may he
necessary to bring the provisions Of
this section into full force and ef-
lfect."
Instead Of issuing such orders, the
secretary of war sought for some
way Of evading his duty. Although
no question as to the meaning Of
the law had been raised, the attor-
ney general was called upon for his
opinion. And he, by a forced con-
struction and the most palpable Jug
glery, construed the law SO as to
make it perpetuate the very system
Iof iniquity which it was enacted to
suppress. In doing this he adopted
the suggestions and even the Ian
guage OF the national brewers at
torney at Washington, Louis Schade,
and it was given out from that
source several days in advance of its
official publication. Such an out
rageous notification Of law Of con-
gress on the part Of those whose
duty it is TO execute law has never
been known in the history OF the
country. 1t calls for such an indig-
nant condemnation and rebuke that
no president or cabinet officer will
ever dare to repeat such an offense.
We wonder if that Baptist editor
is really ignorant of the fact that
large number Of the leading con-
gressmen and senators have come
and said how they understood this
an.i-canteen law and what they in
tended to do by voting for il. If so
he is out Of place in an editorial
sanctum. In response to an en-
quiry from the officers Of the Ma
tional Temperance Society, all these
say their intent was to prohibit the
sale OF intoxicating drink in the
army. Only one congressman, so