Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1901-05-03
The Army Canteen.
Editor Inter-O Ocean.

The Army Canteer.
Editor Inter-Ocean.
The editorial in last weeks issue
of a local paper, regarding the
abolition of the army canteen and
the disastrous results, very natur-
ally provokes the question. Why
this increase in drunkenness
among the soldiers? Are the re-
strictions less than during the
prevalence Of the canteen? Didn't
the men have the privilege then
as now Of visiting the outside
saloon and Of patronizing it to
any extent they pleased?
If the drink furnished by the
post exchange was limited in
Quantity and not to their liking
in quality, what was to hinder
these drinking soldiers from seek
ing, in the. nearest outside resort,
something stronger and more Of
it with which to satisfy their beer
whetted appetites and unappeased
thirst?
We have been told over and
over again that men who are dis
posed to drink will get it some
where, somehow, and all they
want.
Is the soldier in camp an ex-
ceDtiOn to the general rnle?
Is it not possible that these
army officers, referred to in the
article in question, have reason
for wishing to make it appear that
the canteen is a necessary adjunct
of the military camp? There are
plenty Of people in the world who
possess the happy faculty Of see
ing things from the one point Of
view which most nearly accords
with their individual likes or pre-
ferences. It is not easy for a
Relief Corps woman to believe
that our brave soldier boys-the
defenders Of the fag-are, as a
class, SO hopelessly debauched
that there is no way except through
the post canteen with its bar and
its beer to deter them from the
danger Of making beasts Of them
selves-a disgrace to their friends
and a dishonor to their country.
For the sake Of our heroes, living
and dead, let US hope that the re-
port Of these officers is, to sayithe
least, unjustly exaggerated and
that the following from the other
side is the true version of the mat
ter.
Miss Alexander, of Brooklyn, in
The Union Signal says: "No
doubt your readers will be inter
ested in knowing some facts con
corning the management and sue
cess Of the present canteen system
in our army posts. Despite the
fact that the Chicago papers and
the New York journal have pub
lished such glowing accounts Of
the drunkenness among the sold
iers on the last pay day, in a re-
cent investigation I have been
making, Of forts in the vicinity of
New York (Fort Wadsworth and
Fort Hamilton) I have not been
able to find that there is any more
drunkenness, I have found, on the
contrary, a spirit of contentment
among the men and much less
drinking than heretofore.
Eat Fort Hamilton I made in
quiries Of one who is in a position,
to know, concerning drunkenness
on last pay day. He said there
had been no drunkenness, no men
in guard house and no absentees
AN unusual record.-I was told
that more money went to the
reading room than usual, more
money was in circulation and
washerwomen who heretofore
have had to take canteen checks
for pay, this month receivedmoney
for their work. l visited Fort
Wadsworth and took lunch there.
The post exchange is fitted up as
a first class. restaurant where
everything along that line can be
had at a low price. Chops, sand
wiches, cake, pie, rolls, crullers,
tea, coffee, chocolate and milk are
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