The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-17
The Army Canteen.

seem to think that women do not
know what the so-called army can
teen is, and that we, in our igno-
rance, have abolished it, and do not
know the awful consequences. Let
me state what the women of the
w. G. T. U. really think the army
canteen is. We have never thought
it was the tin receptacle for carry
ing water found in a soldiers kit.
as q man speaking to me about the
matter did think, and thought it
was most cruel for desiring to take
that from the soldier. We haye
understood, from our general read
ing, that the army canteen is a
Post Exchange, where the soldier
can buy necessities and some luxu-
ries. We understand that the can
teen has often several rooms, used
tor different purposes. Often a
lunch room, a reading room, where
soldiers can read periodicals and
books, write letters home, ETC..
sometimes it contains a gymna-
SUM, with many of the up-to-date
appliances. All these things the
women have rejoiced in and wanted
the soldier to have-and all this
has not been taken away by the
passage of the bill in congress at
its last session. In Cleveland's
administration we understand that
q saloon feature was added to the
canteen, that is. beer and light
wine were allowed to be sold.
During the early days Of our war
with Spain, soldiers were detailed
to attend this department of the
canteen. In fact, they were obliged
10 be practical bar keepers in hand
ing out these Intoxicating drinks
to the soldiers. A good many
fathers and mothers, who in great
agony gave up their sons for the
country's defense, someway did not
relish the idea of their boy being a
bar keeper or becoming a drunk
ard in this new life. Many of the
boys themselves did not and do
not enjoy the prospect. Because
these good people, men as we'll as
women, aroused against this out
age. congress passed a law more
than two years ago, abolishing
liquor selling in army canteens.
1t did not abolish the canteen but
did abolish the saloon feature.
Attorney General Griggs made an
Interpretation of the law passed by
congress, that while the soldiers
might not be detailed to act as bar
keepers and need not sell intoxi-
cants, yet civilians could be thus
engaged to sell, and this was done.
The temptations of intoxicants
were kept near to the soldiers
right within their own forts.
Again the people aroused them
selves, and their exact meaning
was put in such language that even
attorney generals could under
stand, and the selling of intoxica-
ting liquors. including beer and
light wines, was abolished from all
army Post Exchanges or canteens.
This did not abolish the Post Ex-
change, but the liquor selling in
the Post Exchange.
Many of the newspapers have
tried to make the public believe
that abollshing the liquor selling
has abolished the whole Post Ex-
change, with the good features as
we'll as the bad. These are not the
facts, as all women of the W. G.. T.
L. understand. Women of the
w. c. T. U. are patriots and love
the soldiers and want to do all in
their power to make the soldiers
life safe and tolerable. They send
wholesome literature to the army
camps for the boys to read, and
would be glad to do anything in
their power to help the soldiers.
We do not believe it for the best
GOOD of coldionc a., IL