The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-11-23

light lunch.
The general store sells sucl. articles
as are not for sale at the post commits
sary, and for which there is any de-
mand. Among them may be mention
ed various articles of clothing, such as
handkerchiefs, underclothes, neckties,
certain toilet requisites, groceries,
fruits and candies.
The last branch Of the exchange is
strictly speaking, the canteen or bar.
Here are sold beer, light wines by the
glass, or soft drinks. cigats and t'''acco.
No ardent spirits are carried III sIock
or sold and nothing can be taken from
the premises. The most rigid reguia-
tons govern. No person is allowed to
get drunk here, and absolutely no liq-
nor will be sold to any one who is in
toxicated. A. man can get glass of
beer, but he cannot get whisky.
What other place in this country can
say as much? Is there single saloon
keeper in this world that will refuse to
sell drink of any kind, and thus shut
himself off from his handsome profit
of anywhere from fifty to two hundred
per cent?
And this brings us to one of the
strongest arguments in favor of the
whole canteen question, the one of
profit. The exchange is run as pay
ing business, but the profits all go to
the purchaser to provide certain arti
Giles of food-really luxuries-thaL are
not furnished by government, which
necessarily furnishes on the staples.
Everything is sold at a fair profit,
say from five to twenty-five per cent,
but the profit on beer, wines and to-
bacco is the largest of all-from fifty
to one hundred per cent This is as it
should be, for these las, three articles
are sold at the same price for which
they can be purchased elsewhere, and
so no one is encouraged to buy on ac-
! count of cheapness. We all love
bargain; but no bargains can be found
in liquor and tobacco. The profits,
after paying the running expenses,
are divided proportionally among the
companies serving at the post, and 60
into what is known as the company
fund, fund expended under the di-
rection of the company commander
for the benefit of the enlisted mems
mess. No ones makes any profit ex-
cept the purchaser; not even the Off
Ger who expends his time. thought and
energy on the exchange is paid any
thing in addition to his regular army
pay.
Here it should be remarked that the
canteen proper, or the section of the
of the exchange that sells tobacco and
beer, is entirely different from the
popular idea o. bar-room. There is
no imposing array OF bottles before
polished mirrors to tempt to all sort
of mixed drinks, connections that ruin
the stomach and very soon inebriate.
There is no skilled bar-keeper to mix
and dispense at the will of the drinker
But the room is fitted up plainly with
tables and chairs, small counter, an
lcebox, and a case of tobacco. Every
thing is clean but homely.
The rules in regard to paying for all
purchases at the exchange are very
clear. No man can get credit directly
but he can purchase on credit a limit
ed number of checks, which will be
received at the exchange in lieu of
money. However, he can also pur-
chase for cash the same checks at re-
duced rate, an excellent rule to en-
courage men to pay for what they get.
Now that we have seen just what
the exchange is and how it is conduct
ed, let us consider some of the argu
ments in favor OF the continuance of
the canteen. 1t is only fair to say at
the outset that practically all the cri-
ticism of the army canteen has come
from those who know nothing about
the question, while in the opinion OF
those who have known and watched
the workings OF the system there is
nothing but unstlnted praise Tor it.
All the officers IN the regular army,
with very few exceptions, have stated
officially that to do away with the
canteen means to encourage .hose
evils that are subrersive OF discipline.
that go to weaken and undermine the
one fundamental principle of every
thing mliitarv-absQlute and unuues-
tioning obedience. Officers (ana who
is better able to judge of the subject
either on account of personal quall6-
cations or position) say that the cam
teen business lessons the number of
courts martial for such offenses as alb
sence without leave, drunkenness, and
disobedience Of orders, increases disci.
pine among the men, increases their
selfrespect and improves their morals,
makes them better qualified to do their
duties as soldiers, and to fight for their