Evening journal., 1909-02-22

Bell. Chief Of staf. U. s. A.. and Colonel
John r.. Williams, commandant Of Fort
DUPONT In his letter in reply to Mr.. Ar
ters, President-elect Taft says. under date
of Augusta, Ca, December 2S, 1908:
while l was member of the Commis-
sion in The Philippines. we passed a law
prohibiting the location of saloons within
two miles Of any army post in the Islands.
and the provision worked well. don't see
why It would not work well in this coun-
try. The only difficulty for the War De-
partment is that the passage Of such a
laws requires the exercise of State juris-
diction."
Secretary Of War Wright in his letter OF
January 21 1909. says:
Your favor of the Goth instant is just
received In reply, I beg to say that I
think 1t would be very much in the in
terest OF the Army post at Delaware City
If there could be legislation which would
prohibit the sale Of intoxicating liquor in
proximity to that post"
Judge Advocate General Davis. says in
is letter Of December s. 1908:
I beg to acknowledge. with sincere
thanks. the receipt Of your favor of THE
st instant. and to say in reply that It is
source OF very great qualification to the
department that the Anti-Saloon League
is taking the proper steps to present the
matter to the Legislature of the State OF
Delaware, with view TO the passage of
legislation forbidding the establishment Of
saloons withing a certain distance, usually
one mile, OF a military post. In several
states such legislation has been had, and
there is an act of Congress prohibiting
1he establishment of saloons within one
mile of the Soldiers Home in the District
of Columbia So far as we have been alb G
to learn, this legislation has been highly
successful and calculated 20 advance the
interests Of temperance and of good NOR
ais in the localities in which It has been
enacted"
Colonel ]. r. Williams, commandant Of
Fort DUPONT in his letter says:
1 have read the copy OF the letter from
Judge Advocate General Davis to Mr.
John NJ. Arters. Of the Anti-Saloon League
and beg to inform you that 1 agree in all
respects with General Davis as to the
benefits OF the proposed State law It
would remove immediate temptation from
the soldiers at this post and would al
most entirely abolish our payday court
fenses."
The following letter of General Bell,
Chief Of Staff, was sent United States
Senator DUPONT OF Delaware on January
23rd
Replying to your inquiries upon the
subject discussed in the letter from Mr..
John NJ. Arters, which you left with me
during your recent call at the War De-
] partment. can say that am heartily in
favor of any measure which prevents the
surrounding Of military posts by saloons
and low dives. In the Philippine
Islands the Civil Government passed laws
fixing limit within which saloons should
not be constructed contiguous to military
posts. There can be no doubt that laws
prohibiting the establishment Of saloons
within two miles Of military posts. IL en-
forced. would be of great benefit to the
military service"
Mr.. Arters has sent a letter to members
Of the Legislature on the subject. in which
he says: Among those writing favorable
letters are Hon. Theodore +. Clark. State
auditor; Francis McIntire, cashier Della
ware City National Bank; F. c. Warner
U. s. assistant engineer; II. c. Price
superintendent canal company. and others
equally prominent. Besides. we have peti.
tions containing the names of many good
women in Delaware City and signed by a
considerable number of soldiers stationed
at Fort DUPONT. We have found the mer
OF tho Army q unit in favor of the pro.
posed bill. Colonel Williams, the comman,
dant, wishes to be heard before the proper
committees OF both House in its favor
Martha washington Supper and /