Gilpin observer., 1900-03-15
DRINKING AT MANILA
NOT AS BAD AS REPORTED.
Tho Native Gin Which Was Death to tho
Soldiers Is Not Allowed on Sale-Amer
lean Beer Takes Its Place.

The reports of excessive drinking by
United States soldiers In the Philip
pines have brought forth much unfa-
vorable comment of late. 1t Is now
stated that conditions at Manila are
not as bad as they have been painted.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Record quotes the Rev. G. G.
Pierce, ID. D., one of the oldest and
most highly respected clergymen in the
army, recently chaplain of the Eighth
army corps, who was the first chaplain
, to arrive in the Philippine islands, and
who remained there continuously until
few weeks ago, as follows:
There has been great deal of
drunkenness in the Philippines, and
there always will be more or less but
no more than exists among our troops
in the United States and elsewhere
Drinking has materially decreased
since our occupation and the conditions
will gradually improve. 1t is absurd
for temperance lecturers to argue that
because prohibition is right the sale
of liquor in the Philippine islands
should be entirely prohibited. We can
accomplish better results by degrees.
There is no such thing as driving
soldier to do what is right He must
be taught and persuaded. If you pro-
hibit the sale of American liquor in the
Philippines the soldiers will drink the
native gin. which is the most deadly
and maddening of all intoXicants.
When first went to Manila the streets
were lined from end to end with ma
tive shacks at which this poisonous
compound was peddled at the rate of
one cent a glass. The natives take one
drink and stop. They know they have
enough. but our soldiers, ignorant of
its character, and because of its low
price, would take four or five drinks.
which set them crazy. They were not
used TO il. They drank it as they
would drink beer or American wines.
This caused an appalling amount of
drunkenness. But it did not continue
long. The native drinking places wera
abolished and the sale of that vile stuff
forbidden. Then discharged soldiers
began to open saloons and sell Ameri-
can beer. wines, whisky, etc, which
the soldiers drank moderately and
with the same Iesults as in the United
States.
'The establishment of these saloons
is accepted by persons not familiar
with the facts as evidence that drunk
enness has increased. but they do not
know, or neglect to explain, that half
dozen drinking places have been
aoohshti every tlldt HIS Dteli
opened and to-day if the American sa-
looms We're abolished the soldiers
would return to the vile native gin
which the Chinese. who are very
shrewd. would find means TO furnish
them somehow or another.
1.-The military authorities are vigilant
and are working with determination
to break up drinking entirely, and their
efforts have already shown excellent
results. There is considerable less
drunkenness than year ago. the NOR
ais of the troops have greatly i'm
proved, and far better conditions will
be seen in time
The correspondent goes on to say
that government reports show that the
quantity of wines and liquors and spir-
its exported to the Philippines is much
less than generally stated. The total
value of these exports last year was
$26S,96G.