Washington sentinel., 1901-03-09

l DC AulGTlCdus
This is one stand from which t,
view this bill; but it is not the onl,
one.
Mr.. Bailey, in questioning tn
sincerity Of the intentions OF tn
advocates Of the measure, secure'
an admission from Mr.. Gillett, o
Wisconsin. that will not be pleas
ant reading 10 many of his hom'
constituents. especially those en-
gagged in the manufacture and ex
port of beer. Another committee
Mr.. Gillett said, had had undei
consideration the question Of ex'
tending the provisions OF this bill
to Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philip
pines and Hawaii. He said there
was need OF such Legislation for
those places, and he hoped, and
expected, that it would be intro
duced and passed.
There is no doubt that Mr.; GIL
lett speaks for the maj jority in Con-
gress, and little that prohibition
bill for the islands will be intro
duced next December and pushed
to a decision. What that decision
will be will depend in a large
measure on the action taken dur
ing the present recess by those
whose interests will be injuriously
affected by the passage of such a
bill. 1t will not do to sit idly and
let the friends OF prohibition work
up unopposed a sentiment in favor
of their side that will be so power
iul in the coming Congress that
opposition will be futile, as was
the case with the canteen. Prohi-
bitionists are ceaseless in their
efforts to encompass their aims.
Their opponents must be equally
as untiring if they would hope to
circumVent them
The four hundred saloons that
are said to be in existence today
in Manila are held up to the gaze
Of the American people as il such
a thing as drinking resort were
unknown previous to our occupa-
ton. Whatever of disorder or
crime is committed there is
charged to those saloons, and to
the mild beverages theV traffic in.
No account is taken Of the hum
dreds Of vile resorts dispensing
poisonous native dsi7sSs that flour
ished previously, nsf is allowance
made tor the fact that the presence
OF 6s, 900 soldiers, removed from
the restraints of home environ
ments, nearly all young men e9c'
periencing Tor the first time free
dom from the conventionalities Of
life in the States and the necessity
OF sell control that naturally beget
indulgen :es that lead to excesses,
a fact that would account for much
OF the disorder existing there even
were they all on a strictly cold
water diet.
Prohlbitionists, in picturing con-
ditions in Manila, and ascribing
every violent and unlawful act to
indulgence IN liquors, have had
the field to themselves, and they
have availed themselves Of their
opportunity. They are adopts in
the art OF working up public sem
timent in lavor OF their schemes,
and not always truthful in the
means they employ to further
them But as long as their asser-
tions are uncontradicted and their
arguments are allowed to 60 un-
reIuted. the result is easily seen.
This is how the canteen was
abolished, and if the same supine
and listless and unconcerned
course is followed in the future, il
regard is not paid to danger until
it is upon US, if assertions are not
challenged, and arguments refuted
IF, in a word, a policy OF drifting
is pursued the end is in sight, ex-
ports OF liquors to the islands will
cease by law, the hundred millions
paid by brewers to carry the flag
and trade to other lands will have
been wasted, and thirty millions
they will have to pay under the
new law each year will bring moth
ing o. trade or profit to them.
A campaign Of reiutation and
education is necessary: Prohibit
tionists are carrying it on vigor-
ously for their principles--can
their opponents afford to remain
idle2 They have been gwen due
notice OF what is in contemplation
by Mr.. Gillett. What are they
going to do about it2
| Hollands Mantfest DestFuy