The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-03

JGI 4CMDGR D. lOO0
pose to severely criticise President McKin-
ley as very bad man on account OF the
order Of the secretary of war permitting
the sale of beer TO the soldiers by what Is
known as the army exchange Such action,
whether for political effect or not certain
ly cannot be regarded with favor by the
administration party in the present cam
paign. He says the charge is personal, not
partisan. Mr.. Mckinley is before the peo-
pie as a candidate for President, and not
to vindicate his personal opinions: on such
questions his reputation is well established.
He also said that the question was con-
servatively handled but 'called upon the
indignant voter to resent it by his infu-
ence and ballot" hence my article. And
in order to have the question properly ex-
planned and duly considered it was deemed
advisable to regard 1t from PRACTICAL
standpoint, and in order to do so procured
an interview from a gentleman Of many
years of experience and association with
the soldiers in the army. knowing that
there are some persons that sometimes
change their opinions when question is
fully understood. Now, it will be seen by
the following communication that there are
others of mo mean standing in the army
who have opinions on the canteen question
that are worthy of respectful considera-
ton. Z. +. G.
indianapolis, Sept. 1.
The communication alluded to in the fore
hx- r
John NJ Schofield retired). formerly in
command of the United States army and a
distinguished soldier who has seen forty
six years of service. 1t was printed In the
Bangor CMe) Commercial of July IA, and
is as follows:
1.-The very worthy people who so earnestly
demand the abolition of che army canteen
seem to have overlooked one or the most
important aspects of the question involved
They appear to regard the soldiers or the
United States in the light OF children, SUD
Ject to parental control They forget tnat
soldiers in this country are citizens, VINO
have voluntarily surrendered to the govern
men certain parts, and only certain parts,
of their liberty as American citizens, ana
that the liberties not surrendered are as
sacred to them as to any other portions Oh
the citizens of the United States.
There was a time in the history of this
country when custom, inherited from ear
lier English depotism, forced on the Ameri-
can soldier social and religious rules, whlch
were inconsistent with civil and religious
liberty. But that time is happily long past.
The United States soldier. once destitute
foreigner just landed in the country, is now
an educated self-respecting American citi-
zen, who knows his rights and dares main
tain them. He knows perfectly we'll what
duties and obligations TO the government
he has assumed by his enlistment, and VIVA t
rights he has retained as an American cit1-
zen. Among those rights, as well as he
knows, are religious and social liberties.
the same those enjoyed by his fellow
citizens who are not in the military serv-
ice.
Among the social privileges now most
highly priced and enjoyed among all civ
iized and enlightened peoples is that of
voluntary association of persons In similar
circumstances or actuated by similar aims
in life, for the purpose of mutual improve
ment, pastime pleasure. The Young
Mems Christian Association, with its
branches in all the cities and principal
towns in the United States; the lawyers
clubs, the artists clubs, the many political
clubs and numberless purely social clubs
are illustrations of this well-nigh universal
desire of enlightened and refined people to
enjoy undisturbed association with others
of their own tastes and habits in societies
having the right of internal self-govern-
ment without any outside interference. To
a very great degree such clubs have in re-
cent years taken the place of saloons, and
which were formerly resorted to by young
men in this country, and this immensely
to the benefit of society.
THE commissioned officers of the army
have from time immemorial enjoyed these
social benefits under the names of army
messess regimental messes or post clubs,
but until recently no attempt was made in
this country TO provide such ineStimable
grogshop, with its brothel just outside of
the post or camp, followed by a term in
the guardhouse, were the only means of
entertainment within the reach of the Door
common soldiers. But with the movement
TO elevate the character of the enlisted
men of the army came of necessity radi-
cal change in his social condition and sur
rOundings. The new soldier must not be a
frequenter of grogshops nor forced to seek
entertainment outside of the company of
his fellows, but man who could pass his
| leisure time with his army companions in
| harmless amusements, like gentlemen i'm
| civil life and like the officers of his regi-
| ment.
HAS not The time gone by when any por-
! ton of the good citizens of this country
| should wish to maintain the insurmount-
| able barrier that once existed between the
| commissioned officer and the enlisted men
| of the army?
THE law has, in effect broken down that
| barrier. Every young soldier who pa sses
the necessary qualifications may now as
| pire to become a commissioned officer and
| hope to rise to the highest rank. The Off
| GERS OF the army, with the approval of the
War Department. enlisted men on this new
| and higher plane, both officially and So
| cially. And one indispensable means to
| this end is the soldiers club, now called the
exch ange, similar in all respects to the Off
| GERS club which has always existed Does
| any good citizen propose that Congress
shall enact laws for the government of the
| soldiers social clubs and not those of the
officers, or of other organizations i'm the
District of Columbia and the territory un-
| der the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress-
II such laws are necessary or desirable and
are considered possible in this free coun-
| try why not extend them 10 all places
within the jurisdiction of the United
! States? If members of Congress can vote
| that no soldier shall have a glass of beer
| at any place within the jurisdiction of the
United States, how can they refuse to vote
| for a similar act in respect to themselves
| and everybody else in the District of Co.
| lumbia?
There can be but little difference OF
! opinion in regard to the great evil of intern
| good or iii effect of moderate use of slim
| ulants. So experience has left little room
| for doubt to the total failure of any at.
| tempt to prevent by any restrictive meas.
ures which encroach upon the rights of in
dividuals. Such measures in the army. as
well as in civil life, only lead to more ex.
cessive intemperance. Moral and social i'm.
| fiuences are most potent in working re.
| forms, and nowhere are such Influences
| more effective than in the army cIub
where the young soldier is under both the
| influence of his comrades and the slIper.
| x-;cioy, Of bfc of4icarc the ,.o&~;ox.-