The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
THE POST EXCHANGE.
A stroug Array or Ar-y Opiniou n Favor
OF Its Usefulness.

"
wAsHISoToS, Oct. 2T.-In the recent report OF
Gen. o. o. Howard, that officer expresses the
view that the post exchanges, or post c~anteens,
as they used 70 be called, are largely responsible
for the increase Of court martial cases in the
army. and that the drinking habit Ia encouraged
by them. In his previous report the same oficer
took substantially the same ground. He ac-
knowledged that the proceeds Of these %institu-
tions have been used, az far as practicable. for
the benefit OF the soldiers, but several officers,
he said, still objected to the sale Of the beer.
cop,roiied IL is purchsss and sale by . commissioSe3
i nmedr m sen or neS Siire Sps ei W lac cG e 70 y sneou wnsse Srin " .R.
% cover the faults OF those who take too much. some
s s,s, .i.s ss so@'ss, s s%Sp e s ave p ip amy! any case a. : ~ Tni lied States state:
formiy Increased under this system Of beer selling.
brvnk.rds arc doubtless sometimes moderated aud
selves !" beer; but lie new mem who, Tor the desire Of
SssSseis q s'%sS,s,%Ssn : hs5!, sIisaay. Begun, a.
stronger beverages by strong beer.
That this opinion. however. finds very little
support In the army Ia shown by the fact stated
in the report Of AdJt.-Gen. Ruggles that out Of
eighty-hve post commanders who reported at
the close Of last year on the post exchange.
seventy-six declared without hesitation that IL
Is of benefit to discipline, and only two opposed
IL, while seven expressed no opinion. In a
former report made by Surgeon General Suth-
CT l1hus hN NhlhN y III lIb
decrease among our troops. Every medical
oficer who refers to the system approves Of II,
with the exception of Capt. r.. r.. ball. tempo
rarily at Fort Riley, and at that fort, as the
Surgeon-Gencral added, there were Just six
cases Of drunkenness during the year
in its garrison OF GAO men," In a re-
port once made by Gen. McCook, who
at that time was a Colonel commanding the
Sixth Infantry. he said that the sale Of beer
--l LIKE .t--a - Ia ,l-- 1900
restraint. induces temperance among those for
merly slaves to drink. Should this sale be pro-
hibited at the ~canteen. whiskey dens will spring
up in numbers around the reservation" This
last is really only one OF scores OF similar
opinions from post commanders. As long as
FIVE years ago. when Col. II. I. Dodge com
manded at Madison Barracks. he reported that
as a moral Influence In the interest of disci-
pline and good order the canteen has achieved
a remarkable and generally unexpected sue
cess. Though within the limits Of a village
Astounding In barrooms and other temptations.
this post Is more free from DRINKS, disorders. UNI
authorized absences. and neglects OF duty than
commanding ut Fort sidney. once said that
1.-The supplying OF beer has had the effect OF
fsG"sin K The he n ssi az %fde snm iiqHoFTs;i e Fo s9s Wya Ss.
worth, years ago. Lieut.. Blunt declared that in
had sensibly diminished from the establish
of the canteen. Col. Arnold OF the First Cav
airy repOrteu IN REGARD 10 rOTl custer tnht since
the canieen had been established drunkenness
and the offences incident to IL for which nine:
And taxing the last Ave or six years together.
beginning with the establishment of the can
teen, or post exchange. by the voluntary action
ton of the War Department, a long list of
opinions quite as strong could be collected.
The subject Is one of much Importance, and
the War Department has done well to collate
the opinions Of officers upon Il; II it be true, as
the beer feature is bad for the discipline Of the
men and promotes ntemperance. It ought to be
stopped, leaving the admirable cooperative sys-
tenn OF the post exchange to go on without IL:
But If. on the other hand. as so many good
drawing men away from the vile whiskey shops
that are found near army posts, then by, all
heartily supported,
Congress nj one time took up the matter. and
that the post exchanges would have to be dis
unless the sale OF beer was stopped.
reached il was decided by both branches that
this course would, be unwise. Presumably the
OF opinions from officers that drunkenness had
since the system had been adopted, to
go back to the old methods:
All the regulations adopted, In fact, show the
extreme solicitude OF the War. Department and
of army officers not to allow this privilege TO be
abused. The first rules allowed beer and light
wines; but then these latter were excluded. Al
first the beer could be sold in the same room
some might be tempted TO take a glass OF beer
while buying other things, II was prescribed
IUll u DCtE Iluat DN Eoii IA q hta WIN
To obviate still another objection that had been
scri6ed that mo alcoholic liquors. beer, or
wine shall be sold or supplied to the
enlisted men in any canteen or post
traders store, or In any room or building at any
garrison or military post in any state or Terri
tory in which the sale OF alcoholic liquors, beer,
or wine Is prohibited ~ law" Thus IN every
with proper restrictions and not TO go counter to
local sentiment.
Indeed, it is obvious that since Officers COM
manding posts, regiments, and companies are
responsible for the discipline and condition OF
their men. their interest must be to have them
sober and orderly. Since the great majority APP
pear to approve of the post exchange as il
Is. the presumption must be that they think
II wiser to have the men drink light beer
where those In charge can take care that no one
shall drink too much, than Ia give them as a
only the grog shops of the reserya-
ton, where there is no wav. OF restricting them.
course these latter places still exist in
and flourish, and have soldiers
among their patrons. while drunkenness is still
known In the army as elsewhere. hut IL is not
fair 10 ascribe 10 the post exchanges results due
20 over-indulgence elsewhere. Perhaps a care
full statement OF the places to which drunken
ness can be traced would be an Instructive guide
on the question.