The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-03
THE ARMY cANTEEN.
a Criticism Of Statements Made Concer
ing Its Adjustment.

a Criticism OF Statements Made Concern.
ing Its Adjustment.
To the Editor of The Post.
Houston. Texas. March 25-In the March
IL issue of your paper there appeared nm
editorial on 'Somc Effects OF tho Anti.
Canteen Law" that contained statements
which should not 20 unchallonged II is a
little late to answer It, but did not until
now have mt hand the information ncccs.
sary to do so. trust you will give me
space to present the "anti-cantecn" side
The editorial was based on the alleged
facts given in special" from Chicago to
the New York World, ms follows:
'The adjustment of the army cantecn ia
producing riot and disorder Just beyond tho
confines of army posts.
Friday was pay day Mt Fort Sheridan.
where 1000 soldiers of the Fifth Infantry
are in barracks. The village Of Highwooi
was taken possession Of by 200 drunken
soldiers yesterday.
They destroyed two saloons and drank
most of the liquor in the town. There were
scores of fights and the whole town was
terrorized, This was the 1rst pay since
the canteen was abolished.
The men used to buy beer ON the reser,
walton. Now they buy whisky in the sur.
rounding towns"
In rcfuting these allegations | shall use
the evidence gathered by the New Voice
of Chicago, the paper that furnished the
statistics and other facts on which the op.
ponents of the canteen secured its abolt-
ton. The New Voice is Il paper whose in
vCstigations, statements, etc, concerning
the liquor traffic In any of Its forms have
never been successfully questioned, SO l
can present evidence collected by 1t vita
the utmost confidence in its reliability.
on the publication in the Chicago papers
of charges similar to those contained in
this special member Of the New Voice
stan WAS sent to lIghwoOd to investigate
and report the facts, and below is pre-
scented the portion OF his report bearing on
the allegations under considerations
There was no riotinE, no buildings were
jurcd--neithur stores nor saloons. Durli
the night a talOrs shop was hurgariled.
but whether by soldiers or others no one
knows.
Citizens of IIighwood unite in pro.
nounCng the past week one OF the mo
peaceful weeks that have occurred in con
nocton with pay day at Fort Sheridan
In spite OF the fact that the garrison at tho
fort is larger than usual on account of iae
there.
"A large number of Tllghwood citizens
interviewed by a New Voice representative
on March 10 expressed the heller that these
newspaper stories have been sent out ny
the officers at tho fort, who they insist,
| are angered NJ the abolition OF the eauteen
because Ii depriycs them of the rake oil
formerly paid them 10y the brewers IN re-
turn for the beer market thus provided,
"lhe attempt to make II appear that
the slight disturbances Wnlch TOOK pace
Afa. al los
new and unusual In that town Is. in i's-li.
lnendacious.
lit was less than year ago that the
notorious HuXtAble resort. now managed
by other parties, was raded by crowd o.
soldiers who were infurluted by the treat
ment that one of their comrades had re-
ceiyed at that place, out OF Which lne
cauteen then running ut the FORT lad not
kent him. On thar occasion there was y
real riot and shots were exchanged between
! the proprietor of the place and the soldiers.
III was only comparatively snort time
| age that a gang of drunken soldiers ~
tackled the marshal of the village, throWlu!
him from the sidewalk and beating ana
Kicking bin after he was upon the ground
/ The marshal in self -defensc, shot ana =
! rlousiy wounded three OF the soldiers. MI
this took place while q canteen was run
/ ming ut Fort Sheridan
( In presenting the facts gathered by the
member OF its stan, the New Voice IN m
editorial addressed TO the editors OF the
Chicago papers. issued the following cnal-
lengc:
when you represent to your readers that
there have been unusual disorders IN the
saloons Of HighwOod since the abolition 81
I the canteen at Fort sheridan you aGalh
make a statement mat you know 10 DE uh'
supported by any fact.
."fhcrc Is no excuse for you. Fort Slcr!
dan 10 only - miles from chicago lhgre
are almost hourly trains between INT clls
telephone lines connect your offices WIN
Inc village Of the fort If you did roi
I know tho character II thG stories You i4ld
Your readers you have Deliberately REFRAIN
ed from learning the facts
'"The New Voice challenges the daily pa
pers OF Chicago. all and several TO reSeul
Tho charge OF falschoOd which we nav
made and here rei,erate. PUBLISH Il yol
dare. Messrs. Editors. an editorial line II
contradiction Of the charge. me SeM
Voice promises to reproduce FOR rs rcadel'
any defense or eNtenuatloh that you 'n"'
nerusal of your Chicago exchanges
will doubtless show that no proof OF IN,
truthfulness OF the reports OF rlollns'
/ etc has vet been offered by the papers
The question naturally arises VA
should such reports be Disseminated :
there Is no truth in them mar onl ,
Z crnld nnv one have IN giving ont SUI
fsisa news? The New Voice oyer q mont
MO made q statement that throws hEns ~
I tba subject and lays hare the Nh"'
si,,iinr o1es that viii doubtless be In q
I ire SOM out On the passage OF w
/ sartt coutaen law" the New voice colh
nnto6 ~ asltate for n better army "a
tIop, urging that the government sup2-
NE snidlers with Ice and the other ~
urles II was claimed the eaniesen enanig
them 10 purchase. senator bans00ot ia "
Sntrodnced asbIll appropriating s5Qo-Vmn 70
XXI. III ,,,-nose on reference OF this bill I
a committees, Secretary q war r, X, h4 ,ao ~
neare1 secretly before the commit zee
49, a.i,tor 20 the hill and made the state
ment thar within six months time the "a
department would present oYerwnei nhl,
evidence OF the error made IN me ans M,
tioh 90, "r denortment twice defeated beifgarr
I 1as, vs. and moi during 70 again null,
the law. Is TO brin about us o aeIeat :,
SIM Ms was 10 be done ny giving ~
nress fulI details OF very drunk hg ;l,
liner disorder engaged in, by the soldier 1
details that hrretof.re nave , Dssn VA IA