Evening star., 1900-02-01
The Circular Letter.
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WASHINGTON, January Is. 1900.
MY Dear Sir: Believing that you are in
terested in the enforcement of the anti
canteen law which passed both houses of
the Fifty-fifth Congress, received the sigma
ture of the President and became statute
| law. but by the wholly unprecedented in
terpret alton of the Attorney General the
law was nullifed take the liberty of
bringing the following facts to your no
fice.
"We are advised by most excellent au-
thortty that Congress should not be asked
to pass new law relating to this matter
until one more earnest and far-reaching
Effort be made with President Mckinley,
in the hope that he will fulfill the promise
made in July last 10 committee of repre-
sentative men from different parts OF the
country, who waited upon him. that he
would take up the matter and carefully
consider the question, and that the law
| should be enforced according to its real
| meaning Six months have been allowed
to pass, and the fact that he has done
nothing is very strong evidence that he
cannot answer by any process of reason
the legal brief upon the subject presented
him by the committee.
THE President has full power to ask
the Attorney General to reconsider the
question of the construction of the law;
also to take the opinion of other attorneys
or to act regardless of the Attorney Cen
erals opinion.
We believe II sufficient pressure from
the better class of citizens from all over
the country Is brought to bear upon the
president we Will secure such N interpre-
tation as he will follow, and enforce the
law according to its meaning.
In view of this fact. am emboldened to
| ask that you will aid the cause of right
eousness by addressing a brief letter to the
President, stating the fSppe that he will full
fill his promises.
When writing the President please give
your full title and address. Trusting this
may meet with your full approval and
hearty cooperation. and praying Gods
blessing upon our efforts.
II remain yours, very respectfully and
sincerely.
MARGARET DYE ELLIS.
Superintendent of Legislation for the Ma
tional Woman's Christian Temperance
Union"
The Attorney Generals Letter.
In taking cognzance of the circular, At
tcrrey General Griggs wrote the following
letter to Mrs. Ellis:
January 30 1860.
Madam: There has beefi forwarded to
me copy of an alleged circular letter sent
out from yo II office and signed by you as
SUP uIerfntendent of legislation for the Ma
tienal Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, with reference to the so-called anti
canteen law, in which you refer to the fact
that in July last President Mckinley stated
to a committee who waited upon him upon
TINS subject that he would take up the
matter and carefully consider the question,
ana that the law should be enforced ac-
cordinS to its real meaning
You stated in your circular that six
months have been allowed to pass, and
that he has done nothing; that the Pres
ldent has full power to ask the Attorney
General to reconsider the question of the
construction of the law, and also to take
the opinion of other attorneys. or to act
regardless of the Attorney Generals opin-
ion.
You express the belief that if sufficen.
pressure from the better class Of citizens
from all over the country is brought to
bear upon the President, you will secure
such an Interpretation will follow and
enforce the law according to its meaning.
You ask that the recipient of the let
ter address brief letter to the President
stating the hope that he will fulfill his
promise.
'Inasmuch as 1 assume that you are not
willing to disseminate false statement,
especially with reference to the President
of the United States. 1 deem it my duty
to call your attention to the fact that
shortly after the visit of the committee
which you refer to- the President did refer
to the Attorney General the law you have
mentioned and asked him to go over the
question and reconsider his opinion The
Attorney General did so, and reported to
the President that, after a careful consid-
Grafton of the case, he was unable to come
to any conclusion different from that first
reported
'Furthermosa. at the request of the Pres
icent. the legal effect of the anti-canteen
Id" was by present SeCTe-
tary of War. whose duty it is to enforce
the law TO the extent of its legal effect, and
tEat officer (who is considered to be a law
yer of reputation) concurred in the views
and opinion given to the President by the
Attorney General. Consequently, the Pres
ident has been enforcing the law according
to its real Gaming as Interpreted to him by
the officers Of the government who are
charged with its Interpretation and enforce
me Mt
4 respectfully suggest, therefore, that
you modify your circular letter by stating
the real facts of the case, and that you
take pains to see that whatever pressure
may be brought upon the President shall
be pressure based upon a true understand
ing of the facts"