The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-09-07
The PRESIDENT AND THE CAN.
TEEN.

4
II it is true. as reported, that the |
National w. G. r U. has issued an
order to all its branches to pray and
work for the defeat of President Me-
Kinley. on the ground that he permits
the continued existence of the Army
Canteen. it Is only another illustra-
ton of the ease with which good peo-
pie may sacrifice judgment to zeal.
In the first place President McKin-
ley is a Christian gentleman, all his
life consistent church member, and
and all his life a teetotlar. So far as
his personal habits are concerned, or
the influence of his personal example,
the w. G. T. U. could not hope to put
better man in the White House.
But why hasn't he abolished the
canteen?
Fer the simple reason that in his
| judgment the cauteen, as now conduct
ed at all army posts, promotes
temperance rather than intemperance
among the soldiers. And that is not
the Presidents judgment alone, but it
is the Judgment of every army officer
whose opinion we have ever heard or
read.
In a recent letter on this subject, ad-
dressed to Senator Sewell, of New
Jersey, a member of the Military COM
mittee of the Senate, Adjutant Gener-
al Corbin said:
1.-THE canteeu was established and
has been maintained in the interests
of temperance and betterment of dis
cipline, with most satisfactory results.
This is shown in fewer trials by court
martial, in the decreased number of
desertions and in the improved health
of the men"
AS proof of these assertions Gen.
Corbn quotes the figures from official
reports showing that prior to the in
PRODUCTION of the canteen the deser-
tions averaged from 10 to IL per cent
annually, while since its establish
ment these have steadily decrease UNI
last year the percentage of assertions
was but 20. Furthermore General
Corbin shows that the number oftrials
for drunkenness and offenses original
ing therefrom has decreased from 37l
to 100. He also shows that there has
been large increase in the number o.
men who deposit their savings will
the government.
The general superstition is that thu
canteen is merely saloon where the
: soldiers may buy all kinds of in
toxicating liquors ad libitum. Gen
: Corbin says:
: THE canteen is department Of the
exchange constituting an enlisted
men club. Rooms in or near tn
soldiers quarters are set apart fol
this special purpose furnished will
+ reading matter, billiard tables ant
a other games, but every form of gamb
ling is absolutely forbidden. Her
d. the men write their letters home anC
| read the newspapers and magazines
4 The government has no financial in
) terest whatever in either the exchang
j or canteen, the furds being supple,
n by the soldiers themselves.
THE sale of all spurious liquors b.
: the canteen is absolutely prohibited
. Only beer and light wines are sold t.
> either officers or men, and these onl,
= when the commanding officer lis salts
n fed that giving to the troops an op
, p@rtunity of obtaining such beverage
within the post limit will prevent then
u from resorting for strong intoXicant
to places without such limits, an
tends to promote temperance and dis
. cipline among them.
). Gen. COrbin then againquotes otlicia
reports which show that for the yea
, 1898 the average amount for each en-
-, listed man and officer expended 70
: liquor at the canteen was INVENT,