Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-12-26
WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 2s, 1901


Names prohibition law has been
mixed up in congressional debate
again, and some not very compli-
mentary things have been said about
it. 1t came about through the dis
eussion of the amendment to the army
bill, doing away with the army can
teen.
The prohibition amendment was in
troduced by Congressman Littlefield,
of Maine, who championed it loyalty.
Congressman Fitzgerald, of Massa-
chusetts, who opposed the amend
ment, pointed to the Maine prohi-
bition law as notable failure of
effective legislation in this direction.
Congressman Grosvenor, Of Ohio, also
fired some hot shot at the Maine law.
He said:
81 believe that the experiments heretofore
made in total prohibition In this country have
been substantial IL not absolute failures, and
have resulted in the increase of the sale of bad
liquors, violations Of law. and degradation of
the law by reason of it, violation. know very
well that it believed firmly believed and
distinctly understood that the adoption of the
prohibition Jaw Ia the state of Naine a great
many years ago was going to create condition
of absolute immunity from the evils caused by
the sale of liquor In that state, and consequently
be a great moral object lesson that was TO sweep
over the country and yet have lived to see the
time when the object lesson of Maine is Il warn
Ing to statesman-hip from one end of the coun.
10 boo
that the attempts at state prohibition can lie
successful, and local option of towns or munic-
ipai corporations. with taxation and stringent
limitations, is the best course The result in
Maine does not stand alone. The same Is true
Of the results in kansas and in Iowa, and the
same will he true of every other state that re-
lnquishes the regulation of and the taxation
aud partial prohibition OF liquor traffic and
which substitute the attempt at prohibition"
Mr.. Lifts c I'd came to the defense
of the Maine law with all the vigor
and power of argument of which he is
capable.
The anti canteen amendment was
adopted by tie House by vote of l59
to 81, though many, like Congressman
Grosvenor who is quoted above, voted
for it while expressing doubt as to its
being wise thing TO do. There is
not saloon keeper resident near an
army post who does not favor the
abolition of the canteen in the army"
said Congressman Grosyenor but
when there is such an uprising, such a
great moral determination among the
people of this country, am willing
that the experiment shall be made,
and this, too, even in the light of the
unreasonable criticism which has been
made of the attorney general and the
false and malicious attacks upon the
President, all of which have been
utterly without foundation"
The argument of the canteen sup
porters is that the testimony of the
army officers proves, that if you drive
out the sale of light wines and beer in
the canteen, the soldier will go out
and get drunk ON the outside of the
limits of the camp or reservation.
The sale of beer in the canteen is
limited to weekdays, by the drink
only, and treating, which is respon-
sible for nine tenths Of the cases of
intoxication, is prohibited.
At hearing on the canteen pro-
vision of the bill before the Senate
committee, Rev. Mr. Miller, for
fourteen months an army chaplain in
the Philippines, came out squarely in
favor of the retention of the canteen
Mr.. Miller declared himself TO be a
temperance man, and said it was be
cause he is such that ne took the
position he did.