The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-08
Maj. Ruhlen Says It's Adjustment
Will Work Harm to Soldiers.
HOG RANCHES WILL FLouRIsti
Local Qunrtermaster Declares That
in Advocating Bill Passed Thurs
day by the House, Temperance
People Have LenEued Themselves
with Worst Form of Liquor Traf-
nc-AppIicntioa to Fort Lswton.

IL the action Of the national house of
representatives abolishing the army cam
teen. which was taken at Thursdays
session, is Endorsed by the senate. Wig
orous protest will go up from every mill
tary post In the United States.
Mai Ruhien, the local qusrtermaster.
in an interview accorded Post-Intelli-
sencer reporter yesterday, made the ac-
tic OF the ". c. r. u. lobby at Wash
ington the theme for a rather severe ar
raignment OF that organization. He de-
clared In effect that in forcing. so TO
speak. the passage of the section OF the
army bill directed against the canteen
the women OF the national W. G. 7. ".
had leagued themselves with the worst
forms OF the liquor traffic known In the
United States.
s'If the army canteen is abolished said
Mai Ruhlen. the women OF the w. G. T.
y can take credit to themselves for
bringing about the rehabilitation OF the
notorious hog ranches which have been
the curse of the American soldiery for
years, until they were killed by the army
canteen. The temperance advocates can
thank themselves for re-estabishment
OF conditions which are beyond the pow
er OF the army to prevent or control aud
which will result In more injury to Ameri-
can soldiers than can be possibly i'm
agined by people not familiar with life In
the army.
military posts throughout the country,
every post or army camp Will be sur
rounded by the lowest and most vicious
class OF saloons. These are known in
army circles az hog ranches. and the
term fits them exactly. They are saloons
which are set up on the borders Of mill
tary posts. which are frequentcd by aban-
doned women 81 the lowest type and
where the vilest liquors are sold. They
completely surround the military posts
on the frontier and sap the very life and
strength of the men. without giving any
return.
.4t.yery army officer who has had any
experience with these hog ranches knows
TO what extremes OF degradation they
drag the soldiers. Nightly carousals OF
the most disgraeeful kind ensue- The
men get too drunk to return to their
posts, They become diseased and other
wise unit for duty ana the military au-
thorities are powericss % prevent It. sta
toned Just outside the post line. the pro-
prietors OF these places defy the military
and reap immense profits from the men
who spend their pay in the evil resorts.
Contrast this with the army canteen.
This IL established within the lines OF the
pest and is under the control OF the COM
mandng officer Only pure healthy beer
Is sold and no man is allowed TO purchase
more than - COED for him. The cam
teens are equipped with reading rooms
having the latest magazines and news
papers. The beer IL sold at one-third
tho customary price. All the profits.
moreover go 10 the company fund which
enables the men 20 purchase Injuries
which the government does not provide.
I'VE bad u practical application OF the
army eanteen NJ Honolulu. The post was
located four or Ave mites from the city.
Before Il was established the men on
leave would 20 TO the city to the sur
rounding hog ranches and Nil M with the
yiiest connections They would get too
drunk 10 return al the expiration OF their
leave and tho guard house would he fillei
with men who were punished for heins
drunk or for being absent from duty with
out leave.
''As soon as the canteen was estab-
lished the men we're satisfied to take their
beer at the post and The hog ranches were
quickly killed ~ the most effective means
lack OF patronage
III tho canteen Il abolished Fort Law
ton, when occupied by troops. will be
surrounded by these infamous hog
ranches. They will be set up as close 10
the boundary line of the pos, as possl-
bic and they VIII attract the most dis
reputable characters OF both sexes For
this, the women OF the W. c. r. u. may
then thank themselves