Arizona republican., 1899-02-11
THE CANTEEN AND
 THE DEADFALL


 ions and moral societies, especially those which are working upon the
 United States soldier, will do well to postpone their jubilations over the clause in the army bill which abolishe5 the barracks canteen. They have la
 bored with the purest and most un- selfish motives. we have not the shadow of a doubt. That their gen. uine object was the moral elevation and, consequently, the happiness of our troops, we admit without contro- versy. We repeat, however, that they will be wise to defer their rejoicings until they are quite sure that the leg islation has accomplished some sub stantial good.
 It may not be generally known, but 1t is a fact, nevertheless, that the can teen was originally regarded as a re- form itself. Previously. our army officers had experienced the most dis couraging obstacles to discipline in the low dives and doggeries establish ed by unscruplous rum-se1lers just out side the military reservation. In these reeking dens the soldiers would be Heeced, drugged, robbed, and generally demoralized. It was impossible to keep the men away from them, and. in the very nature of things, the man went there never returned until he was hopelessly and utterly intoxicated. No control could be exercised over these vile shacks, because they were oustide of the government reservation, nor IS 1t Of record that any of the civil authorities with perhaps a very few and unimportant exceptions made really serious effort t0 abate the nuisance. On the contrary, it seemed that these authorities were us- ually in ardent and affectionate sym pathy with the dissemination of rot gut liquor
 The canteen was as a matter of fact. intended to abate the mischief and the crime involved in the old system. The idea was to provide the men with a comfortable resort, convenient to their quarters, where extortion was inn possible, and under the regulations Of which they could obtain any reason able and proper satisfaction That the plan worked successfully, every army officer familiar with it's history will attest. Certainly it had the effect of breaking up the vicious deadfalls Of the past. Certainly it enabled the gov ernment to control the dispensation of alcoholic liquors of all kinds; and it is susceptible of proof that the morale of the men was instantly improved and the guard house record pe-ceptibiy al- tered for the better We venture to say that nine out of every ten army officers who have had experience in this connection will certify to the good influence of the canteen. No doubt it would be better if this world were so arranged that nobody in it would ever want to do foolish or a harmful thing. The question is. whether our good people had better take human nature as they find it and seek to ameliorate rather than to exterminate the weaknesses of mortality.
 It is to be hoped that this clause abolishing the canteen will uplift the morals and enlighten the manhood of the army. Certainly we shall hail. with gratitude and joy any consumma- tion of that sort. But the officers of the army, who are in the best position to observe the behavior and to meas Hre the discipline of their men, have not been heard from yet, and we pre- fer to wait upon their verdict. The canteen is open and above-board. The I11m-shack on the outside is hidden and stealthy. The guard house re- ports will tell the story. We shall know from them whether the morality has won a real triumph in this bill or has merely obtained the privilege of sitting at a barmecide banquet of in- fatuation.- Washington Post.