The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-17
CANTEEN IS UPHELD
General Corbin Gives Results
Of Exhaustive Inquiry.
IT SAVES FROM A GREATER Evil.

To Abolish the Sale of Beer at Army
Posts Would Only Increase the
Drinking Of Stronger Liquids
and Cause More Crime.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Secre.ary
Root has sent to Chairman Hull of the
house committee on military affairs an
exhaustive collection Of opinions on the
question of the army canteen" gathered
by Adjutant General Corbn from every
branch Of the military service. The in
Quiry was made because of the introduc-
ton Of bill to prohibit the sale or deal
Ing In beer or any intoxicating liquor
upon any military premises, Mr.. Hull
having invited the opinion of the war de-
partment Officials.
Secretary Root in the course of brief
Endorsement says:
Il think the enactment Of this bill
would be injurious to the temperance,
morals and discipline Of the enlisted men
Of the army"
General Corbin in an elaborate review
of the inquiry says:
IF the prohibition of the sale of beer
At hiitois pOots, 40 Ny tuIS
bill, could be effective in bringing about
a destruction Of the drink habit among
the soldiers, the adjutant general would
unhesitatingly urge its adoption, and in
SO doing he believes he would voice the
practically unanimous sentiment Of the
officers of the army, but when on the
contrary, 1t can be stated as fact that
the closing of the canteen- section of the
post exchange would be to have such SOL
diers as are now content with drinking
an occasional glass of beer within the
limits Of the post go to the whisky shops
and dens Of vice that once surrounded
permanent posts and which on the pas
sage of such law would soon revive he
cannot too strongly express the opinion
that such legislation would be inimical
to the best interests of the army"
General Corbin reviews the old con-
ditions and cites the existence then Of
scores of low groggeries In Washington
and elsewhere in the neighborhood of
army posts in support of his position.
For hygienic reasons General Corbin
says the war department has not encour-
aged the establishment Of canteens for
the selling of beer in Cuba, although the
advisability of this course is doubted as
the men run in debt at the shops and
cafes and drink vile liquors which often
throw them into commissions In the
Philippine Islands General Corbin says
every effort is made to keep the soldiers
from drinking, but they have no difficulty
in securing from the natives vile stuff
called "Anisado" or "Vino," the effect Of
which is to drive men to crazed condi-
ton that, as pathological problem, has
Occasioned much concern among army
medical people. To meet this condition a
canteen was established at Manila for
the sale Of beer, and the beneficial effects
therefrom were almost instantaneous.
The vino shops were driven out of bust
ness, and the vino question, so far as our
soldiers were concerned, died natural
death.
In conclusion General Corbin says that
the canteen system is being carefully
watched and perfected and that the in
terests of the army require it should not
be disturbed. He says those most inter-
ested regard it o. a success as temper
ance measure, and he adds:
"The wonder Of it all is that the pro-
fessional temperance reformers are in
this respect allied with the aggressive sa-
loon interests in their efforts to secure
legislation to destroy 1t.