The sun., 1899-02-12
rnp hnMr oAxznnM
The Hull Bn's Prohibition Of the sale 81
LIQUOR at Army Posts.

Liquor at Army Posts.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir; The Hull
REORGANIZATION bill. as passed by the House.
prohibits the sale OF LIQUOR at army posts.
This really means the sale OF beer, for spirits
have never been so sold since the days OF the
post trader. Should this amendment be en-
bodied in the bill II will be regarded as n
calamity by a great majority OF the officers.
Since the writer entered the regular service.
nearly twenty years ago. drunkenness has
steadily decreased among officers and enlisted
men. At his first post. large one. many OF
the officers were hard drinkers; to-day, OF the
sixty officers OF his regiment. there is not one
to his knowledge. Among the enlisted men
the change Is quite as marked. and is ewing
principally to two causes. The first Ia the su-
perior class OF men enlistinG. owing TO tho
stricter examination OF recruits. speak now
OF those coming in for three years and not OF
those whosenlistsd for the war with Spain for
II Is with the former that we have to deal. Tho
second cause. far greater In its effects, is the
post exchange. It may seem strange. at first.
that bringing beer into the garrison and SELL
ing It should have this effect. but little study
will explain It, The FIRST change II produced
was the disappearance OF the low-class saloons
that always surrounded all largo posts. The
soldier when paid would 60 to these places
with bad whiskey. perhaps remain drunk until
his money was all gone. and then come back.
more or lees OF wreck. to q trial by court
martial for unauthorized. absence or some
moro serious offence. These saloons were
soldier sod os sye5s Nrtces Of s uporm
an offence prohibited by the Articles OF War.
They were for years a SOURCE OF endless trouble
age decentralization and drunk enness than can
well be described; Their owners were. as
post exchange when il was started and at one
post went 30 far as to burn building de-
S9ted to the new enterprise soRtinpo1s
when an exchange was started thore; they
Fhe exchanges S substituted % TiSo FOR these s rum
hhGies his Sheery where The solder IN
oompanionship Without d dissieatlon % % and as the the
one juet referred TO is fair example. per-
haDs brief dsscsiPton Of it vii not be amSs
and where the soldier could find pens, Ink and
pool room containing also piano; a lunch
room where he could buy simple dishes. toilet
shrtcles hrdc athletic goods. &e: santee9 where
. grocery store where the married soldiers.
and and ma many single ones. could eke out the ra-
pay day, The writer was in charge OF this ex-
the canteen. aud he does nc not % now RENE %remember
ever having had to !nterpose his authority 10
restrain the men. The non-commissioned Of
purpose Of the place. comrSred @ @ It hV With what hat
trials BY court. artiai decreased. d desertIons Sc
onn shd a. the ne osers ne e. the R9ss be-
um, the change was SO marked
me writer is now In CAMP. with his com
mand. near large town where large volun-
every nay day during their stay In service the |
town was full Of drunken and riotous soldiers
when they got there they naturally tooi:enoaeR arR
to save another trip.
There has not been a trial for drunkenness !
since the exchange started. and hardly o day !
the fact that they never see a drunken man
IRON the camp on the streets. This is almost |
Is i strange that oiieers dread the result |
OF abolishing that institution? Its enemies |
Ysys TSte bSt bat Gn. the beer and lsaYs ne
q which Is earefay suaided and deIr rcstricssd
to drink to excess The lunch % is . at Ymes times
even a loss to the exchange. but It and the sale |
Ths ppos f6e ss.
support the other departments. and what re- |
mans n a. after tRS expSnsss OF the exchange are
he can't get beer the soldier won't 70 to the eI.
uut Wul ~ WHoI6 ue can get III and l
more injurious things. Deplorable but true
Ihere Will be no more money for the periodi- |
,als. the billiards. the lunch, &C.. and even the
very good soldier will hardly care for an un-
:, Who desires the passage OF this resolution
First the saloon keepers who formerly fat
.ened OH the soldier and who hunger for his
patronage: second. the Prohibitionists The
act that the enlisted men OF the army are be-
coming every year moro self-respectng self
controlled and conten led with the service, and
hat drunkenness Is steadily decreasing goes
or nothinR-hecause with 1t goes the offlcIally
'ecoRnized sale OF beer
The writer comes of good Puritan stock:
lis parents are Prohibltionists aud he was
atsed on temperance PRINCIPLES which, he still
q many thinRs with even the editor OF the
otce. and wishes. and that most heartily, that
he manufacture Of alcohol was lost art But
le has not lost his reason in 30 believing |
army officers are interested in the welfare
mental, moral and physical-of their men far
more than the W. c. II. Z. can ever be- The !
problem OF leasening and restraining drunk
nness In the army has always been before
hem; and now. after years OF trial they have
eoved 1t. Is II right to let fanatI-
Ism step In and undo tn is work?
The writor believes that were this subject
thoroughly understood by our legislators it
you'd never be so much as mentioned In Con-
ress. IL will be n hard blow to the discipline
made a law.
AN OFFrcrp or TUE pro,,, IN Ar,