Washington sentinel., 1900-12-15
NO "A

would otherwise drink beer in modera.
ton under the eyes Of their fellows will
go outside where they will get strong
drink, and that all the evils that once
existed will be renewed.
II we wish to have an army composed
OF selfcontrolling and selfrespecting
men, we must give them the opportunity
to exercise the virtue of temperance bv
choice, instead oftrying to enforce total
abstinence.
lhe American army is not to be
governed by State prison rules. When
at home they have the right to use
liquor m moderation within the walls of
their own home.
When in the army they claim the same
right If it be denied, those who wish
to drink are driven outside to fiery
spirits, or worse.
lhere is no vice more to be feared in
any army than intemperance. It is
because the post exchange snd the
canteen has been shown beyond all
question 10 promote temperance that
we favor it and deprecate any efforts
which by statute will forbid the officers
oil the army to do what they find best
Tor the morality health and discipline
Of the men.
This is aquestion OF our practical duty
as men and brethren to our brothers in
the army, We must treat them exactly
as we do our brothers at home Unless
we are prepared to deny to our friends
at home the right to drink a glass OF beer
IN their owu houses, it is neither our
duty nor our right to enforce such
prohibition against our brother in the
army as distinguished from proper
restrictions. For the sake of the cause
oi order and sobriety and temperance
we oppose the adoption Of this amend.
ment.
Why should we assume to know more
OF the army and its needs than the
brigade. regimsntal, and company com.
manders, who know their men and have
their interests most at heart? have no
apology for quoting their opinion. Why
should we deny to our brothers In the
army the right to moderation In their
own home which we claim for ourselves2
Why should we drive them out to the
vile saloon outsider How can we pardon
ourselves If we put the army back to
what 1t was ter years agor
Mr.. Bartholdt (Rep.). from the
beer brewing city of St. Louis,
confined his opposition to the
measure and his advocacy of beer
to the following feeble remarks:
Mr.. Chairman, suppose that section
DO OF this bill represents the sentiment of
the War Department on this question.
If that is so, desire to impress my
friends here upon the floor with the idea
that If the War Department reports or
recommends section of this kind il is
presumed it is based upon practical
experience. There is practical expert
ence on one side and sentiment on the
other. Practical experience teaches she
generals. the colonels and the officers
Of the War Department that the canteen
is an institution in the interest of tenn
perance The sentiment which we
strike upon the other side is in the
interest OF temperance It is only a
question OF which is right.
1t will be no doubt pleasing to
Mr.. Bartholdrs brewer constitu-
ents in St. Louis to learn that he
views the prospect with so much
complacency, espe cially when it
involves their material interests so
closely. He seems to be unaware
that prohibitory laws, OF which the
canteen is a specimen, operate
against the brewer and have never
heretofore been considered in the
interest Of temperance. The "sen-
timent" of the W. c. r. u. is ioI
prohibition and nothing else.
Mr.. Often (Rep). from that
other beer-producing city OF Mil
waukes, is noticeable TOR his entire
failure to say a word IN behalf Of
his constituents, even to the extent
OF asking permission to print his
remarks in the Record He was
dumb.
And then the amendment was
adopted by vote OF Is9 to 81.
When the bill reaches the SEN
ate it is no ped that fairer treatment
will be accorded it and proper
weight given to the opinions and
conclusions OF army officers as set
forth in reports to the War De-
partment, the consensus Of which
is TO the effect that the alb olition
OF the canteen will bring aboutthe
very evils against which the advo-
Gates OF abolition inveigh. Having
in view the army in the Philip
pines only, even the Investigations
OF prohibItionists prove that the
sale OF beer and light wines under
proper restrictions as enforced in
the canteen is far better than the
unrestricted sale Of the poisonous
native drinks prevalent in the
oil army encamp-
ments.
It was surely a field day for the
ladies of the N. w c T II ubo