The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-12
BREWERS PETITION
ARGUE AGAINST PROHIBITION IN INDIAN TTnRTToRT <. 2
Ask President tc xjee sifs Inaiaence ta
 Keep Clause Denytng 'fsed Skins Beer Out of Statehood i HsIH. Q

WaehinEton, Nov. 11.--Pregident Roosevelt was requested today to use his influence to prevent the insertion into the statehood charter of Oklahoma for absolute prohibition of the nanu- lecture and sale of intoxicating beverages.
 The question was precipitated during the discussion of statehood measures in Congress, and has aroused considera- ble comment through the country By appointment, a committed consisting of Representative Overstreet, of India na, and Albert Lieber. of Indianapolis. d member of the United States Brewers Association, called at the White House and presented to the President petit tion assigning numerous reasons why the prohibition provision, if inserted tn the organic act creating the new State, should not extend to beer and ales.
 The petition Is signed by fifty-one members of the United States Brewers Association, representing the largest brewing establishments fin the country.
 The petition says in part referring to the discussion in Congress-:
 Tt was shown that ardent spirits and alcoholic drinks had been kept out of the Territory under treaty with the Indians for many years and the propo- sition was advanced that the new States should be required to place in It's con stftution a proviso prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks to the Indians for a period of years We do not wish to argue against the authority of Con- gress to place such requirement In bill admitting a new State, doubtful as such authority may be. nor do we wish to point out the probability that the proper new State would disregard such a requirement. after its entrance to the full Statehood of the Union.
 Neither do we wish to preeipitate prohibition argument throughout the country or stand in the way of the In- dians being protected in their moral welfare.
 what we do want to ask is that if the wise men of the country, guided by yourself. dnd prohibition require ment proper. it shall not extend to beer and ale that contain less than 1-2 per cent. of alcohol. The fact is that near Iy all of 1t is below ( per cent, and most of 1t around 3 1-2 per cent. The beverage contains from four to ten times less alcohol than large number of the largely advertised and much used patent medicines throughout the coun- try which receive the unstinted recon rnendations of women and men of stand ing and which are sold throughout the Indian Territory withou. moiestation We are sure that no man who has given serious study to. the question will rank beer among the strictly alcoholic drinks Drunkenness can only follow its most gluttonous use and 1t is today the prin- cipal factor in turning the United States into the leading temperance na- tion of the world
 You are undoubtedly acquainted with the effect of the abolition of the army canteen. in which only beer and light wines are sold to the soldiers The officers and post commandants are unanimous in reporting that when the soldier could no longer get his glass of beer In the canteen he resorted to whiskey In the lowest dives and the result was that his physical and moral health and discipline suffered and de- sertions increased.
 The Indian is human like his white brother. He craves stimulant, and if 1t is shut or from him he will go out of his way to get it.
 If the Indian of today Is permitted mild drinks, like beer. he will not seek the Intoxicating ones, nor will he kill himself with drug habit.
 We are sure that if prohibition is deemed necessity, wise discrimina- tion. in favor of light Taalt beverages will make 1t effective. while the his- tory of prohibition shows that without such dtscrininaticn it never sue ceeded-"