The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-10-01
TEMPERANCE NOTES,
/ THE ARMY cANTEEN

TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE ARMY scANTEEN a.
"A standing Menace to the Good Mora,s
= Of Soldiers.
: Among army officers opinions are
divided upon the subject of the cam
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. -s.-.
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 luxuries to the
royal troops in England, in particular,
bethought himself of similar ar
rangement in this country, and SO it
has come about that the canteen has
1sSxr tlDn II
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
frorlDan experiment to a fixed policy,
and the lately profitable political plum
of post-tradership is no longer worth
picking:
: When canteen is opened an officer
personally responsible for the finances
of the concern, and is expected to 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 cante en- that
it ekes out the government ration.
confessedly not luxurious. The whisky
and tobacco trade of the post saloon or
canteen is immense and profitable
know small frontier fort where there
is garrison Of but eighty men, 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
barr himself. That is wholly beneath
the dignity of commissioned officer,
and sergeant is therefore taken from
his regular duties and assigned to the
high-toned business of drawing corks,
pouring out beer and whisky, and
waiting upon officers and men who
patronize the military saloon. IT one
sergeant cannot take care of the bust
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 devotcs
his time keeping the post ''doggery" as
presentable as possible for officers aud
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 a financial
success He is open to censure if he
fails. lie 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 martials
as the result of the canteen. A mar,
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 brcakage at some
canteens arouses the suspicion that the
bar-keeper and roustabout are not sat-
istied with one dollar and half and
seventy-fvc cents respectively per day.
The fact is the canteen is an open sa-
loon, sometimes no worse than a re-
spectacle ''doggery' elsewhere. and
generally no better. 1t is a conven-
fence to profigate soldiers and officers,
who might be sober between rn7days
except for the credit this Institution az
fords. 1t is a standing invitation to
the younger men to participate in its
festivities. 1t is officially recognized.
and purchases over its bar are encour-
aged in the interest of good discipline
and the canteen treasury. 1t is in the
very midst of the homes of officers and
men, and about their only resort for in
door amusement. 1t is standing
menace to the good morals of the army
1t is no more necessity to the army
than a roulette table or bawdy house,
and these could as reasonably be added
to the military establishment as =