The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04

A CHAPTER OF EXPERIENCE.
In recent number Of the Army and
Navy Journal is an article by the Rev.
Henry Swift, chaplain of the Nineteenth
Infantry, United States army. in which he
tells of the post exchange at Fort ID. A
Russell, in Wyoming In April, 1898. Chap
lain Swift was made exchange officer and
served as such until last July. when he
was ordered to the Philippines. When he
took charge of the exchange the canteen
had been closed and no beer was sold at
the post. The exchange store. he says. was
a fairly good one. fairly well stocked with
mems furnishings, stationery, tobacco,
etc. The exchange restaurant was
wretched place. which did not pay ex-
penses There was one billiard table in the
recreation room, and a gymnasium which
was diverted to other purposes. The closed
canteen was "a rough. shackley ROOM"
with a wooden bar a half dozen pine
tables and a few chairs. The garrison con-
sisted Of a battalion of the Twenty-fourth
ans, but mainly recruits. Not being able to
get beer at the post exchange. the chap
lain says they got worse stuff elsewhere"
He says further:
During this whole period april to JULY
/ served as counsel for prisoners brought
up before the general court, and so, had
very much of an inside view OF results
both when there was and was not can
teen. During the period when the
canteen was. closed the reputation of the
regiment suffered severely. The men
81
city. There were all kinds of disgraceful
affairs, including a murder, shooting and
stabbing ARRAYS, jailings, etc, and our
even noncommissioned officers. 1t was the
story of the house swept and garnished
To close the canteen on the reservation
could not compel or legislate the drinking
element into decency. 1t simply opened the
way to unrestricted carousing I'm the city
1t was an evil period; and we all felt that
1t would be far better to have the canteen
open and have this element well in hand
where decency and order could be MAIN
tanned.
When it was decided to open the canteen
Swift that he would like to have him stay
as exchange officer, but would relieve him
If he desired. He concluded that it was his
duty to remain. In his report of what hap
pened is the following:
After the reopening of the canteen our
disorders ceased. Drunkenness became
most rare, and in every instance occurred
only when the men went to town. No beer
was allowed to be taken into the barracks.
Treating was forbidden. The barkeeper a
man who never drank. never hesitated to
refuse to sell when he thought 1t neces-
sary; and officers were ready to confine any
man who abused his privileges 1 may
safely say that decency and order were the
rule as far as my experience went. We did
not permit the sale of light wines. or even
bottled beer, as two or three men, the very
first day, were detected trying to carry
their bottles out of the canteen.
Chaplain Swift's experience leads him to
say that he would have at every post
where any considerable number of men
are kept. spacious two-story building.
''gayer and lighter in it's composition than
the more staid and dignifed quarters. bar
racks and Offices He would have broad
verandas around it, one above the other.
He would surround 1t with flower beds. He
would put the canteen, furnishing light
beers only. in the basement, with GYM
nasium. bowling alley, bathrooms, etc. On
the ground floor he would have the post
store and restaurant. On the floor above
and writing room, room for cards and
checkers. billiard room and room which
could be used as a theater. He would put
civilian in charge of the restaurant and
canteen, and enlisted men over the other
rooms. This building he thinks the govern
ment should furnish. and light and heat.
OF such provision. Chaplain Swift says:
t. .sxxl~%
would be money well invested. 1t would be,
In Its way, as instrumental to the moral
well being of the garrison the hospital
Is TO It's physical. We cannot compute ev-
erything on dollar and cents basis but
believe, and think / speak the voice of
very many Of my brother officers in saying
so, that 1t will pay. Where a thousand
men, more or less, are gathered together
there Is something more needed than a cot
to sleep in. or a ration 10 draw and eat, or
drills, guards, reviews and fatigues to fill
In the time. The men are strong and vigor-
Gus, craving for mental and physical d.
version, and for some variation from the
monotony of barracks fare. Generally to
meet these wants some neighboring town
VIII oner an abundance of low, cheap and
vile entertainment. and become a source
of Generalization at once. Saloons, gam
bling dens. low dance houses, brothels, are
ever ready to fatten on soldiers driven
from the nervousness of the garrison to
seek amusement and occupation elsewhere
Why should not healthy, legitimate, or
derby and attractive diversion be provided
| In the post, and so much better and cheap
| er that man would be but throwing mon
| ey away to seek them elsewhere?
There are those who will denounce Chap
lain Swift for his views and suggestions,
because they believe the government
should not sanction the sale of light beer
to enlisted men, but the majority of the
| thoughtful and reasonable men believe.
with Bishop Potter. of New York. that
chaplain Swift has got hold of a big
problem at the right end"