The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-07
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PRoPos Of the ,antoen controversy the
| ~ IottS'ille Chronicle prints interesting
A letter from Corporal Doll Gressang. Of
company II. Twelfth United States in.
iahtry, dated Tarac, Luzon, p. l.. March 90
| IN which the writer says: II want to tell YOU
| something about the first pay day after the
| adjustment Of the army cantecn | think after
| you have read it, that you will acknowledge
| 'hat the doing away with the canteen in the
army was great mistake; and all right minded
ana lnst people will do the same. ! am in .
| position where | sec great deal more than
| comes to the knowledge oi the officers, and,
| though much happened that was brought TO
| their notice. there was a great deal more Of
| which they knew nothing about. The amount
| OF drunkenness and lighting was awful and dis.
| gustine. And why? Because in the first place
, the soldiers had too much money, having no
canttch checks to pay for. And in the second
place, there was post cantecn in which to
| spend it, where they would have had to keep
| order. The results wcie mat the men simply
roamed all over town among the clntccns run
by civilians. and for two or three days il was
| scandalous. Now, all of these men drank before
they came in the army and they arc bound to
get it after they get in. When the army canteen
was in existence checks issued to those
who wanted them, at the rate Of three dollars
worth week. On pay day these checks
paid for, and, result, very little drunken.
| ness. And. besides, the companies got all the
profits, which went into the company fund
and was used for buying extra food for the men,
Now the outsiders get it all, and the men live
on government straight, on which | assure YOU
don't live quite Ms high they do at the
Allan House. OF our small detachment, sta
toned at this place. five were put in the guard
house and there were about twice as many
ought to have been, and the number OF black
eyes and bruised faces is very great. Now.
do not want TO give The impression that the
American soldier is in that condition all the
time, for he is not. \ finer looking set of men
than We have here it would he hard to find
or better lot OF fighting men, but they will
drink, and. therefore. ougnl to have some place
to drink in where there would be no trouble
and from which they themselves would reap the
profits. Instead, they are compelled TO patronze
places where all kinds Of liquor are sold, and
you can bet they not of the best quality.
An army canteen, You know, sells nothing but
beer and light wines, and is at all times under
the supervision OF a sergeant, who is the steward,
and Of an officer of the post. All this talk OF
the government cnticing men to drink through
the canccn is utter rot. \ man does not have
to draw checks, neither is he compelled 10
drink; and [ want to tell You something: mat
a man who does not drink is respected ana
trusted by the rest OF the men, even the worst
Of them. \ great many men drew checks VINO
were not drinking men, but it was for buying
tobacco, soap or paper or lots oil lhihss ina.
a soldier needs. Now they do without until
pay day, and tell you it is quite hardship
to some OF them to go four to six weeks with
out tobacco. They cannot lay IN stock when
they have the money, as tobacco molas very
quickly in this climate, aud as for keeping by
enough money ior that purpose, well, that Is
almost impossible for soldier. You see II IS
so hot in this country that his money Is cohtih'
ually burning holes in his pocket