Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-02-27
w. G. T. u. COLUMN.
DOWN WITH THE CANJEEN.

those who were properly trained, to
anticipate in their revels or the mild
er forms of dissipation in which in
toxic ating drinks have part.
Go ngressman johnson of North Da-
kota, offered this amendment to an
impending bill in the House of Repre-
sentatives' to abolish army canteens
''That no officer or private soldier
shall be detailed to sell Intoxicating
drinks, as bartender or otherwise, in
any post exchange or canteen, nor
shall any other person be required or
allo wed to sell such liquors in any en-
campment or fort or on any premises
used for military purposes by the
United States"
He affirmed that it was Endorsed by
all the generals in the army who had
expressed opinions upon it. except
Gen. Eagan, and it was agreed to
without division.
The argument for the canteen has
been that as drinking could not be
entirely prohibited, it was better to
sell to the soldiers in camp than to
subject them to the temtation of 60
ing outside to get it. But during the
late war each colonel was allowed to
establish canteen or prohibit it, and
in Florida. Cuba, and the Philippines
| those regiments forbidden it suffer-
| ed much less from drunkenness than
| the others, and had a much smaller
| minnie of oaSoc of cioIxpocc op1 1oo+b
from disease. Gen. Wheeler has said:
81 am utterly opposed to soldiers be-
ing sold intoxicating liquors, and 1
believe that every effort should be ex-
ercised to remove the temptation of
| such dissipation from them" General
| Shafter said: ct have ALWAYS been
strongly opposed to the canteen sys-
tenn, of the sale ofintoxicating liquors
of any kind on military reservations,
and have opposed it until absolutely
overruled, and required to establish
canteen at my post"
Remarkable facts have lately trans
pired in connection with the British
army. Experiments were made with
three regiments from each of several
brigades, and in some instances where
forced marches and other hard work
were required. In one regiment every
man was forbidden to drink a drop
while the test lasted; in the second,
malt liquor only could be purchased;
in the third, a sailors ration of whis-
key was given to each man. What
was the result? The whiskey drinkers
at first manifested more dash, but
generally in about four days showed
signs of lassitude and abnormal ia
tigue. Those who had malt liquor dis
played less dash at first, but their en-
durance lasted somewhat longer than
that of the whisky drinkers, but the
abstainers improved daily in alertness
and staying powers.
AS consequence of these expert
ments the War Department decided
that in the Soudan campaign not
single drop of stimulant should be al
lowed save for hospital use. The Of
fcers, even the general were forbidden
the accustomed spirits, wines and
malt liquors at their m ess tables. An
order was issued that the liquid re-
freshments for all hands, including
camp followers, should be limited to
tea, oatmeal water. Or lime juice and
Nile water.
1t is to be feared that a certain class
of regular army officers have been
using their influence among senators
70 co0uro Observation-Disclosures mill, bo
House bill. The sophistical plea is
that the soldiers will be worse if they |
cannot get liquor of the ''post can
teen" This cannot be true, if proper |
discipline is maintained; those who |
make it are confessing laxity in this
respect and proposing to provide for
it's continuance.
Military rule is very different from |
republican civil government; there is
no excuse for permanent violation of |
dicipline in the regular army. The post
canteen practically thrusts the beer
mug to the lips of all, under the pre-
tense that some will take something
stronger elsewhere. Nor are the
canteen posts confined to furnishing
beer, as many witnesses allege. We
urge our readers to write the sena-
tors from their States in favor of the
abolition of post exchanges or can
teens.-Jas. M. Buckley, in Christian
Advocate.
Does Coffee Agree With You?
If not, drink GRAIN -O-made from pure grains
A lady writes: 'sThe first timo made Gran-O I