Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-10
A FORMERCHAPl AiN'SVlEWS
REGARDS ARMY CANTEEN DRINKING
AS THE LESS OF TWO EVILS.
Reduces the Ratio of Drunkenness
Fully IS Per Cent-Keeps Men From
Low GrOGEeries Outside Camp.

Rev. c. B. Carlisle, now pastor Of the
Congregational Church at Buffalo, Wyo.,
who saw active service as a chaplain with
the army in the field in Cuba and in the
Philippines has written an open letter to
Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts of this city in de-
tense of the army canteen system as
moral agency. His letter in part Is as fol-
lows:
Taking it for granted that you are i'm
pulsed by motives that are worthy, let me
say to you, in frank, candid way that
in my best judgment as Christian, a
minister, actively at work, and as an ex-
chaplain of two years service in the army
In Cuba and in the Philippines, you are
all wrong per Sc in your attitude toward
the question Of the army canteen. For
myself it is total abstinence; nor shall 1
enter upon any argument as to this or that
sensualism aninlalism as a preparation
for something even lower. When you come
to analyze these crusades in general they
are much akin to the crusade for church
unity, each crusader meaning Ours is the
only church. come and join US
Il do not believe in making compromise
with any evil-if can help it. But when l
am pushed into a corner l am like Abra-
nam Lincoln, who once said: If I can't
get the best. then 1 get the best l can
My convictions to the canteen come
from an actual study OF the conditions af-
fecting 1t in the army. More than that
my convictions are shared by every chap
lain whom l met In Cuba and in the Phil
appines and army officers of fine moral
character. Not only these gentlemen but
the workers in the Y. M. c. A; now in the
army, some of them. AS between two evils
both OF them in the presence of the soldier
favor the canteen. The canteen Is in
charge OF an officer. and what is or is not
soid, Is not matter of personal profit or
Ill &c. o1;r .ol
the question. This officer, or the non-com-
nissioned officer, who attends to the details
connected with the canteen, is acquainted
with the men who drink and it is within
MS power to restrict and restrain them,
even in the use of the mild drinks, such as
beer. ginger ale, and similar things sold to
them.
Ratio of Drunkenness Lowered.
speaking of two canteens in particular.
while these were operated the drinking
men were content with what they could get
there. and the ratio Of drunkenness was
lessened fully s. per cent from that among
the men before these canteens were there
The very week the canteens were sent
away with moving troops the ratio OF
drunkenness began to climb UP again The
men are entitled to pass at stated periods,
and II they indulge in drink at all it is at
the bars of the low groggeries that sur
round every military camp, and where the
vilest poisons imaginable as intoxicants are
sold. The result is generally drunk, the
guardhouse, court-martial and a fine
Under the canteen plan I have known some
OF these same men to go for weeks. even
months. without getting drunk. In a word |
the canteen had saved many of them from
serious trouble: saved their money, per-
haps the soldiers life in some cases.
People who deem themselves capable Of
determining the personal habits of others |
even to statutory enactment will tell you !
that the canteen is place of temptation
n in, fhn !, .,,fi
addicted to the habit of drink. So are the |
rum holes that lie In wait near every mil |
tary camp. If he isn't proof against the |
one, why, he isn't proof against the other. |
To prohibit the canteen is really to offer a |
special inducement to the groggery men to |
establish their places of business near the |
camps.
The Outside GrOggeries.
abolish the canteen and every man in |
the whisky-selling business near camp |
will lay in an extra supply Of liquor. That !
very thing happened in Songo. in Cuba. while
1 was chaplain of a regiment there. To
abolish the canteen is to drive the soldier
to these low drinking places in order to sat
isfy his thirst for drink.
People who are capable of discriminate
ing between the use and the abuse of a
thing see it so. The soldier Is not a saint,
and great many Of them will drink in
toxicating liquor, rule or no rule. You
cannot legislate or jerk them into being
total abstinence men any more than you
can jerk people. even If they know that
you intend to jerk them, into the kingdom
of heaven. Prohibiting the canteen not
only does not prohibit the sale of liquor
right alongside Of the camp, but it increases
the temptation and guarantees the sale Of
intoxicants many of these men might be
to let alone If they could get
mild drinks in their camps The evil OF
drink we have, and will have as long as
the race lasts, and so far as the soldier is
I believe that the canteen is the
best possible bargain we can make with
that evil. 1t Is automatic that those who
had practical experience in these matters
know more to the points of good or evil in
them than those whose views are shaped
by mere sentiment and the itching desire TO
keep before the public. posing as people
with mission. If you really desire the
welfare Of the soldier who has the habit
Of drink you will urge Congress to make
the canteen one of the features of the army
bill"