Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-26
The ARMY CaEtccn.

tbe noint of view of that noble organi-
cation. Now. the Journal yields hrst
place to no paper or body IN lts deNo-
ton to the cause of temperance, but IL
feels that any attack upon President
Mckinley in this connection is utterly
unjust. He is, to be sure, the comman-
Ider-in-chief of the army and navy, but
the laws regulating them are made by
c,rross and in the Interpretation of
these laws the President cannot go be
hind the decisions of the attorney
General President Mckinley is a
Christian gentleman; his private char
acter is without stain, his morality
was never questioned, and his strict
! adherence to the principles of temper
ance is well known. To criticize him
as being a party to anything which
| corrupts and degrades and Injuries our
upon the organization which makes
such criticism.
In its attacks upon the army canteen
system. the w. c. r. L. makes another
serious mistake, namely that of as
suming that the canteen. as at present
| conducted, is detrimental to the cause
of temperance and morality. This
point is by no means settled. Authori
! Ties differ Is it not possible that in their
-
selling and liquor drinking, these ladies
are carried beyond the point where
they can do the most efficient work for
their great cause? While it is true
that some army officers, notably that
noble old hero General Howard.
native of Maine, favor the total aboi-
ishment Of the canteen system. it IS
also true that the great majority o.
them are convinced that such a move
would fail in its purpose. and would
inevitably result in more drunkenness
more lawlessness, more immortality and
more desertions than now exist with
the Canteen system in vogue. Let 1t
be understood that all officers and
great soldiers in this and other lands
believe in temperance; they know that
an army of drunkards would be hope
lessly useless. morally and physically
untitled for the march and the battle.
The question is, does the canteen as
conducted in the American army, pro-
mote intemperance and immortality?
In his annual report for 1899, Secretary
Root dcvotes much space to this mat
ter, and his Investigations and conclu-
sions throw much light on the subject.
Questions regarding the working Of the
and its effect upon the morality and
conduct Of the enlisted men were asked
Of / .065 officers in the army. OF these
Sg2 replied that their observations con-
WINGED them that the canteen is
beneficial institution, preventing
drunkenness and promoting discipline
among the soldiers. Only 80 officers
expressed the opinion that the canteen
is detrimental: the others either re-
piled that it has no noticeable effect.
or else felt that they had not been in
the service long enough to form an in
| telIigent opinion. Such overwhelming
preponderance of evidence from those
who know what they are talking about
Is not to be lightly pushed aside. The
| opinions of those officers formed by
constant observation is of infinitely
more weight than the condemnation
! which arises from sentiment and
| theory These officers have no higher
aim than the efficiency and good
behavior of their men. and there is 10
| reason 10 believe that their opinions
| on the canteen system are not honest
and prompted by the highest motives.
| The replies Of these officers to the
questions asked are published in full
over their respective signatures in the
report Of the secretary Of war. and are
We'll worth looking over. They give
most convincing reasons for the
| opinions they express. The reply of
| Gen. II. G. Merriam, the commander Of
the department Of the Missouri is
worth quoting as a sample. Gen. Mer-
| Ram is Il native of Maine and is Il
| brave soldier and Il spotless gentleman.
He says: "The canteen is the enlisted
mems social club and they have no
great desire to visit disorderIy places
| outside the post. as under the old sys-
TEN. Their .self-esteem hass1inrreaeed
and their morality improved. 1t has 4
| beneficial effect on discipline; deser-
| ton and drunkenness have decreased
I'LL