The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-10-02
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE ARMY CANTEEN.'
A Standing Menace to the Good Morals
of Soldiers.

Among army officers opinions are
divided upon the subject of the can
teen, which. is the euphemistic name
given the post gin mill. The war depart
ment at Washington and the military
COMMITTEES of both houses of congress
are enthusiastic over the new depart
ure. The temperance people of Amer
lea, however are OF but one opinion
concerning it, and have placed them
selves upon record in opposition to the
canteen.
What is the canteen?
Until very recently, within two or
three years, the post sutler or post
trader has supplied the officers and
men at military posts in America with
such articles of merchandise as they
have required at prices generally quite
remunerative. The licensed post
traders have found the sale of liquor
and tobacco by far the most profitable
elements of their trade. Some army
officers, however, who had visited the
European armies and observed the
methods of supplying Injuries to the
royal troops in England, in particular,
bethought himself of a similar ar
rangement in this country, and so it
has come about that the canteen has
driven the sutler out of business and
the troops conduct their own corner
grocery. 1t was urged in behalf of the
post bar that if it be controlled by an
officer better grade of liquors would
be drank and the expense of soldiers
drink would be less paralyzing to his
pocketbook. The canteen has grown
from an experiment to fixed policy,
and the lately profitable political plum
of post-tradership is no longer worth
picking.
When canteen is opened an officer
is detailed to manage it. He becomes
personally responsible for the finances
of the concern, and is expected 10 make
it profitable. Liquors and cigars are
the only sources of profit because SOL
diers being supplied by the govern
ment with clothing and rations have
little else to purchase, although it is
claimed on behalf of the canteen that
it ekes out the government ration.
confessedly not luxurious The whisky
and tobacco trade of the post saloon or
canteen is immense and profita BILE. l
know a small frontier fort where there
is garrison of but eighty men, a num-
Der of whom drink no liquor, and yet
in eight months they have drunk and
paid for twenty-five thousand bottles
of beer at twenty-five cents per bottle,
and the canteen officer has in eight
months lifted a debt of nearly two
Thousand dollars and is running his
Shebang" at good profit. The sales
of useful and necessary articles at this
post have been too insignificant for
consideration. Behind the bar are
enough canned goods, hair brushes and
backing boxes to take the sideboard
edge off the place, but months roll by
without the sale of dollars worth of
these goods.
A canteen officer does not "tend
bar" himself. That is wholly beneath
the dignity of a commissioned officer,
and a sergeant is therefore taken from
his regular duties and assigned to the
high-toncd business of drawing corks,
pouring out beer and whisky, and
waiting upon officers and men who
patronize the military saloon. If one
oVl SOihI SlllllOI ldhC SdlN vi llC Dlol-
ness others are detailed to assist him.
A trooper or infantry man is relieved
from camp routine and he cleans the
cuspidors, washes bottles and glasses,
scrubs the floor and otherwise devotes
his time keeping the post 'doggery" as
presentable as possible for officers and
men. These soldiers are paid extra for
these services, but are taken absolute
ly from military duty, and they
officiate in the dive" as proprietor,
barkeeper and roustabout. At small
post three men are thus taken from
their legitimate duties, and in larger
posts more men are necessary. The
average will run not less than three to
the hundred, however. 1t is probable
that one full regiment of the regular
United States army is in the saloon
business at the expense and on behalf
of the government. A canteen officer
seeks to make the canteen d financial
success He is open to cenSure if he
fails. He and his assistants are there
fore likely tC encourage sales and
stimulate the business of drinking
liquor.
The officer is in most instances hon
est; but it is not wise to place before
him the temptations incident to the
handling of from ten thousand dollars
to fifty thousand dollars per annum.
There will be no end of court marUials
as the result of the canteen. A man
who would duplicate pay-vouchers
would not hesitate to profit by the can
teen detail. The barkeepers and help
ers are also exposed to the temptation
to drink more than they might if not
handling the stuff, and they, too are
not free from the evil effects of having
an opportunity to cheat the officer in
charge to their own pecuniary advan-
tage. The exceptional breabage at some
canteens arouses the suspicion that the
bar keeper and rousta bout are not sat
isfied with one dollar and half and
seventy-tive cents respectively per day.
The fact is the canteen is an open sa-
loon, sometimes no worse than re-
spectacle ''doggery" elsewhere, and
generally no better 1t is conven-
fence to profligate soldiers and officers,
who might be sober between paydays
except for the credit this institution af-
fords. 1t is standing invitation to
the younger men to participate in its
fnSfiuifinC iS AGn