The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-28

Mr.. James b. Dunn, who says he is
IN officer of the National Temperance So
ciety, has achieved the distinction of hav-
ing insulted every officer of the United
States army, thus showing that he is a
very Incorporate person. He has gone so
far as to admit that a very large ma jority
of the officers of the army are in favor
of the canteen as now managed at the
army posts. This is a decided advance,
since most of those who have made them
selves conspicuous in their hostility to the
canteen have utterly ignored the remark
IN favor of the post c~anteen. Mr.. Dunn
admits that the officers have testified that
their experience leads them to favor the
post canteen. Because they have done so,
upon them with Islander and Insult. as fol-
lows:
Under such circumstances it was not to
be expected that many officers, dependent
as they are upon the secretary of war
for favors, would care TO put themselves
upon record as averse to the views and
wishes of the War Department. .
Any public adverse criticism of an army
officer jeopardizes his position and puts
him out of favor with the Wal Depart
ment.
Those who know anything about the
army know that the promotion of officers
until the rank of brigadier general is
reached proceeds strictly upon the prin-
ciple of seniority. The officer who does his
J,,fx hos pnfhspn 20 faor froV, the yVov
Department. Except in the matter of staff
appointments the department has few
favors at its disposal. To show how SLAM
derous and lying the assumption of this
Incorporate Mr.: Dunn is. let us quote from
the circular of the secretary of war ask
ing the opinions of officers relative to the
effects of the canteen. 1t can be found
in the appendix of the report of the sec-
rotary of war for the year 1899, Page 95,
and reads as follows:
With a view to a proper understand
ing of the situation, the secretary of war
desires that commanding officers of every
troop, battery. company and regiment in
your be called upon for a report.
based upon his experience n observation,
as regards the benefit or injury to the
army in point of temperance, morality
and discipline as the result Of the exchange
system. and particularly as to the sale
of beer. 1t has been publicly asserted by
the opponents of the exchange system that
the officers of the army are restrained from
expressing their true opinion on the sub
ject by reason of the belief that the War
Department has determined TO maintain
the exchange In spite of the opposition.
The secretary desires that such an impress
sion be at once dispelled. In these re-
ports the utmost latitude OF opinion is in
vited In order that the secretary may be
able TO place before Congress at the next
session a correct report of the merits and
who are best qualified TO judge.
The extract here quoted shows that the
secretary OF war is not in favor of the
canteen system unless II Is for the best
interests OF the enlisted men OF the army.
He asked for the experience of those best
qualified TO judge and urged that the Of
fcers exercise the utmost freedom in ex-
pressing their opinions. Yet, in spite OF
these facts and the well-known integrity
of the army officer, this virulent and We
hement zealot charges the entire body of
officers In the army with preparing their
reports 20 suit the War Department lest
they incur IT'S disfavor. Who are some
Of the ave hundred on1cers who have de-