Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-12-31
w. G. T. u. COLUMN
FACTS AND OPINIONS As TO
CANTEENS.

beg leave to say: First, that the
chief canteen question at issue is not
whether liquor selling canteens are
useful or not, but rather, as the New
York Times and Springfield Repubk-
can, both favorable to canteens, have
said. whether law Of congress shall
be enforced according to its natural
meaning and unquestioned intent.
Second-The scientific experiments
of the British generals as to the value
Of abstinence in the army outweigh
all mere opinions and impressions.
OF these experiments the Washington
Star says:
''Three regiments were selected
from each of several brigades for tests
at different times, partly during ma
neuvers. In one every man was for
hidden to drink a drop while the test
lasted; in the second, malt liquor only
could be purchased; in the third,
sailors ration of whiskey was given
to each man. The experiment was
repeated in several instances where
forced marches and other hard work
was required. The whiskey drinkers
had more dash at first, but generally
in about four days showed signs of
lassitude and abnormal fatigue.
Those given malt liquors displayed
less dash at first, but their endurance
lasted somewhat longer. The abstain
ers however are said to have increased
doi1 oil TO
AS result of this experiment the
British war department decided that
in the recent Soudan campaign not
single drop of stimulant should be al
lowed in camp save for hospital use.
Today it is a great feather in the
headgear of the advocates of military
total abstinence that Lord Kitchener's
recent victory was won for him by an
army of teetotalers.''
Third-Even in the matter of
opinions, we claim that the testimony
collected by the war department to
justify its setting aside of the anti
canteen law, is outweighed by the
COMBINATIONS of the canteen by one
hundred American military officers
of greater distinction, whose testi-
mony was in the hands of congress
when it ordered the canteen out of
the army. Besides many other officers
of equal rank we find the following
commanders who have condemned
the canteen. Generals Miles, Shafter,
Wheeler, Corbin, Sternberg, Ludlow,
o. o. Howard, Hayes, Henry, Stanley
Rochester, Harries, Carr, Graham,
Bliss, Lee.
Colonies of the following regiments
which had no canteens: Sd Nebraska
(Col.W. j. Bryan; 1st Texas; 1st Wis
consin; I'd, 4th, 9Th and 8th Ohio; 9Th,
8th, 18th and 18th Pennsylvania; I'd
and 9Th Missouri; 1st New Hampshire;
9Th and 9th Massachusetts.
Lieutenant Colonel Trueman, No.
Dakota, Chaplain Sam Small, Captain
r. S. Koodson expert on tropical
diseases), Lieutenant A. K. Taylor.
Nav al officers: Secretary John D.
Long; Rear Admirals Sampson, Kim
berly, Barker; Commodore l. H. Gibbs,
Captains Folger, Higginson, Crownin-
shield.
Surgeon General Sternberg says
IT do not think much of the beer can
teen. The theory that the soldier
needs beer canteen to keep him
from going to outside saloons for
something stronger, is all wrong.
There is nothing in it. On the con-
trary, a great many young soldiers
who are not accustomed to drink con-
tract drinking habits at these can
teens and are ruined. There is no
need whatever for Intoxicating drinks
at these canteens and it will be a good
thing for the army if they are abolish
ed."(Gen. Miles expressed a similar
view of the canteen in his last annual
report).
Fourth-Tbe leaders of the anti
eanteen movement are not theorists
They have seen the "canteen'' and
know that it is the ''canteen" that is
defended as ''social reading club''
that is theoretical. Of course there is
no objection to canteens that do not
sell intOxicants. We have the affiGa-
Wits, snapshots and other testimony
of anti-canteen leaders, such as Josh
VA L, Bailey, Joseph lowering, Mr.. W.
e. johnson and others. One of the
undersigned saw 'scanteen" in a
battalion of regulars, in fort, under
most favorable circumstances, long
bar with soldiers drenched in perspir-
alton and beer, dealing out beer to
bowling soldiers four deep in front,