The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-14
IN FAVOR CT THE CANTEEN.
Archbishop Ireland Before the SEN
ate Military Affairs Committee.

Archbishop Ireland appeared before the
Military Affairs Committee of the Senate
yesterday as an advocate of the army can
teen. He said the canteen promoted NOR
ality among soldiers, and that it worked
to decrease drunkenness rather than to
cause it to increase.
my experience in St Paul, near Fort
Snelling," he said in part, has convinced
me that the canteen, or post exchange
is the b ST way of dealing with the liquor
question in the army. Men having the
taste for liquor, if We are too severe and
try to do away with it, will find ways Of
getting it by illegal and underhanded
means and in ways much more harmful
than by getting it at their posts. ] have
observed that the soldiers at Fort Shell
ing come to St. Paul much more seldom
than formerly, as they are not now
tempted to sneai. away to get their drink.
After pay day, formerly, many soldiers
from the fort were found in the police
courts 1t is the same along the line OF
military reservations. Three or four dis
reputable saloons were always supported
before the post exchange was esta biished,
and they dealth not only in liquor but in
everything that makes iniquity. Soldiers
under the influence of liquor were consid-
cred legitimate prey in these dens and
much of the immortality to which they
were exposed was due to the fact that
they had to do their drinking outside the
post. Even if soldier takes a little
too much inside, he is protected against
the many evils 10 which he is exposed on
the outside.
mo one thinks they will become total
abstainers. Very few will. What those in
charge of their morals should do is to
eliminate dangers and reduce their drink
ing to moderate temperance. l have been
a total abstainer all my life and have
worked in the cause OF temperance. But
when dealing with the people at large /
am convinced that the only satisfactory
and successful way is to eliminate dam
gers as far as possible and reduce the
drinking rather than try TO prevent it
altogether l have always advocated high
license rather than prohibition
Senator Burroughs said: Some excel
lent people have objected 10 the canteen
and suggested that young men who have
never taken Il drink might be tempted to
drink by the canteen and become drunk
ards later on. What would you answer to
this?"
Il would say was the reply. that such
young men in the army are very rare
articles
ular to go before TIE country" said the
Senator
Il would say further" continued the
Archbishop, IF the rare articles do turn
up. as they may. and they have been able
to resist the temptations of the saloon in
ordinary life, ] think they will resist the
temptations of the canteen.'
Bishop McGoldrick, of South Dakota.
presented arguments along the same lines.
Other Witnesses before the committee
yha world like TO see changes made by the
Senate in the Army Reorganization bill
as passed by the House. were General
Lieber. Judge-Adyocate General of the
Army. who wanted his corps increased.
General Ludingtcn, Quartermaster General
who wanted the rank of some of the OFF,
GERS in his corps raised. and General
S:eely. Chief of the Signal Corps. who
is very anaious that the company organ
ization shall be maintained in the Signal
Service.
Colonel Guentller, of the Fourth Artil-
lery, the senior artillery officer of the
army. and commandant of the artillery
school at Fortress Monroe. was heard in
opposition TO corps organization in the
artillery. He wanted regimental organ
ization continued and said he knew of
very few officers in the artillery who did
not agree with him on this point.
Major Henry Romeyne, retired. ad-
dressed the committee in favor of the
canteen.