Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-12
TO CURB USE OF OPIUM
GOV. TAFT DIscUssEsPURPosE OF
PROPOSED MEAsURE.
Says Issue is Much Like That of High
License and Prohibition in
the United States.

Additional information ia regard to the
opium question in the philippines has been
received at the WaE Department in the
latest mail from Manila. In an account of
a recent public hearing on the subject 1t is
stated that Gov. Taft announced that the
opium question in the Philippines had be-
come a repetition of the old high license
and prohibition question in the United
States. The governor made the concluding
address on the question and unhesitatingly
declared himself in favor Of high tariff
with a prohibition against the use of opium
by any but full-blooded Cinnamon over
twenty-one years old. Speaking of the bill.
he said:
Object Of the Bill.
THE bill was drawn with the motive and
almost the sole motive Of restricting the
use of opium by the Filipinos. But it was
not thought possible by the commission
to pass a law which should be at all ef-
fective In restricting or limiting the use
of the drug by the Cinnamon resident in
these islands. The bill in the first section
is a prohibition as to 100000 Filipinos
in the islands. and gives restricted permits
sion as to 100 600 Cinnamon. II there be so
many in the archipelago.
Gov Taft referred to the opponents OF
the hill as prohibitionistS and remarked:
by that I mean they believe that a high
license upon the liquor traffic Is wrong IN
principle in that 1t Is recognition by the
government of trade in liquor and a pro-
lection Of that trade which Is in itself i'm
moral and that no government should
permit or be an accompfce In that which
is immoral
Il do not think that to take a drink OF
whisky or beer or wine Is an offense against
morality or against society. l do think
the excessive use of strong drink Injuries
the Individual, and in the complications OF
this relation to society injuries society.
Like the High License Question.
IT think that governmental recognition
of the liquor trade as a fact. by legalizing
it and licensing it, is the only known prac-
teal method of restraining its evil influence
In community in which it's use as a bev-
eraee is general. Now, DIR. Stuntz says
that there is the same argument against
the licensing of liquor sales as against the
licensing of opium sales. and II that be
true then the issue between prohibition
and high license here with respect to the
use of opium among the Chinese is very
much the same question as the issue be-
tween prohibition and high license in the
larger cities of America. 1t is conceded
that the Filipinos are the largest conStItu-
ency to be consulted in these islands, and
any telegram which represents them as
opposed to the bill was misleading. If the
business men oppose it none ever appeared
before the commission to say so. Person
ally I should be in favor of passing either
the bill now framed or ashgh license bill
eliminating the monopHfy feature"
Gov. Taft said that he thought it better
however, to have the matter investigated
because of the interest manifested in the
mended the appointment OF commission
to visit Japan, Chinas*andsO other countries
to study the subject and Smake a report
upon which legislatioHs can sbe based.