Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-03-26
Wha, the Canteen Is and Legislation Concern
ing II.
BY Margaret Dve Ellis.

By Margaret Dye Ellis
From a query propounded to me recent
ly by gentleman of seeming intelligence
! am led to believe that many people in
our country are ignorant concerning the
nature of the canteen and wonder what
all this hue and cry regarding it means.
To all such | would say, the canteen IS
the army saloon. Why it is styled can
teen is problem unenlightened minds
have not yet been able to solve.
The object Of the canteen in the begin
ming was a well stocked general store
where soldiers could procure certain luA-
uries not provided by the government;
viz, a well kept lunch counter supplied
with a great variety of viands, such as
canned fruits, meats, pastry etc, WIth
nOn-alcoholic drinks and tobacco. Reau-
ing and writing materials were also sup
piled. Gradually beer and other intoXi-
eating liquors We're introduced, ana IL IS
to have these latter removed that recent
legislative efforts have been put torth;
Upon the breaking out OF the spanish
American war it became evident ma
many Of our boys who had nobly re-
sponded to the call for troops We're des-
tined to meet worse fate than TO ian ~
battle, for in these government saloons
soldiers were detailed to tend par, ana
many a boy going from Chrlstlan nome
and member of the society OF ChrlSudn
Endeavor. upon enlistment was colnpeIed
to sell liquors to his Comrddcs At lhis
government bar. Implicit obedience Is
the rule of the army, and there was noth-
ing left for him to do but to obey or
dprS!' I'LL.
Rumors of the terrible condition in
camps where the canteen flOurished. dur
ing the mobilization q, troops Pi,;l,1, IL the rs
of fathers and mothers whose boys hau
gone as well as the country at large
and there was a general protest in the
wav of petitions 10 Congress, which cul-
minated in the framing Of the now ceIe-
brated anti-canteen bill, which provides:
That no officer or priyate; soldier dI, snail
a bartender or otherwise, in any post
exchange or canteen, nor snail any other
person be required or allowed to sell such
liquors in any encampment or fort or on
any premises used for military purposes
by the United States: and the secretary
of war is hereby directed to issue such
general orders as may be necessary 70
carry the provision Of this section into
full force and effect.
This passed both Houses of the fifty
fifth Congress and received the signature
of the President. As a consequence of
this order a large number of inquiries
reached the war department, and Secre-
tary of War Alger referred the law to
the attorney general, J. w. Griggs.
whereupon that gentleman set forth his
opinion in a long argument to show that
Congress had not intended 70 abolish
liquor selling in the army. that its only
intent was to prevent officers Or soldiers
from being detailed to sell, and that civ
ilians could do 50 without fear or ques-
tion.
Such a whirlwind Of Indignation and
protest as passed over the country at
this travesty of justice has seldom, if eV-
cr' been eauaIed in our history as ma
tion. From press and pulpit. from city
and town. from grief stricken fathers
and mothers, came the cry to the chief
executive, who, as a commander-in-chief
Of the army and navy, had i IN ms Mhls
sale Of Intoxicating liquors in the army
But they waited in vain.
A committee representing various tenn
pcrancc societies called upon the Pres
ident in July last and urged him to take
some action. He received them gra-
ciously. listened attentiveiy. and prom
ised to give the matter his personal at
tention'' This committee and the gen
cral public waited patiently for an ans
wer of some kind. Letters and tele;grams
inVariable answer, the matter is still
under consideration, until six months
had passed.
Early in January the national W. G.
T. T.. through its superintendent Of leg
islation, sent out a circular letter ad-
dressed to prominent professional and
questing them to write personal letter
to the President. reminding him of hir
promise, and again urging him TO take
some action. This letter found its way tc
the attorney-general, and he replied t.
the superintendent of legislation that
shortly after the committee had waited
upon the President in July the matter
had been referred to him. but with No
change in his views, and that further
more, the present secretary Of war con
curred IN his opinion.
Wh,ereqpon The presidentt, e the na-
Miss Anna A. Gordon vice-president-at
large ana Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis su
pcrintcndent of Legislation. waited upoI
the President again. to ascertain if pos
SihlC if the opinion of the attDrncY-gcn
Cral must be considered as final, ana l.
present over two thousand letters from
professional and business men and organ
izations besides signatures representin'
over thirteen thousand people. receive
in five weeks. protesting against tn
opinion Of the att"rney-Seneral