Washington sentinel., 1901-06-29
.ronrr.ssinnnIError.

Editorial opinion is still piline
I'D in support OF the now generally
conceded failure Of the Anii-Csn
teen law. AT this rate the opening
of Congress will witness the press
OF the country, outside Of the Pro
hibition papers, which would no.
see anything good in the canteen
IL they could, unanimous for the re-
peal OF this foolish law. ColIiEr'S
Weekly is the latest addition to
the ranks OF the soldiers friends.
1t says;
The passage OF the Anti Canteen law
last year was a great surprise to the
public and disagreeable one to most
OF the officers OF the army. They pre-
dlcted that it would lead to excessive
drinking by soldiers IN the towns near
the army posts, to lawlessness and to
frequent desertions. Apparently, their
predictions have been swiftly verified.
The enlisted men have Tesorted to the
barrooms OF nearby towns for their
drink, and, once escaped from the Wig
ilance oil their officers, they have drunk
too much, as the officers said they would,
and there have been disgraceful out
breaks of lawlsssness, notably at Fort
Smelling, in Minnesota, and al Fort
Sheridan, near Chicago. Mr.. Root, the
Secretary Of War, who Joined with mill
tary experts IN objectinG to the enact
ment oil the law, is collecting evidence
of the effect Of the abolition of the can
teens. with the purpose OF recommend
ing a repeal, Senator Hawley, OF Con
neciicut, one Of the old soldiers in the
Senate, who opposed the passage OF the
law, expects it will be repealed early IN
the session, This is the hope OF Mr.
Root and nearly all army officers who
have spoken on the subject. OF course
it will be opposed by the ProhibItionlsts
on the ground that the canteen system
makes the Government partn.r in the
liquor business. But the public will
hardly accept their point Of view as its
own iu the face of almost overwhelming
evidence of the real value OF the canteen
as a promoter OF temperance. The
public, excluding Prohibitionists and
tntolerant temperance people, want to
do what is good for the soldier, He
would be a better man and a better
soldier if he dIdn't drink at all, but this
counsel OF perfection is Of no weight
against the fact that he does drink and
that # he can't get his beer in a canteeu
under the eye of his officer he will get /;
elsewhere. That elsewhere is too often
barfoom IN the slums, where he is
dTugged and robbed or sent back to
barracks an alcoholic wreck.
Opposition to the operation oI
the anti canteen law has now been
aroused in another direction. The
old veterans have come to the as.
sistance of their younger comrades
and their words will have weight
The latest communication on thi:
subject is from Commander John
@. Maynard, OF Gen. J. M. Scho.
field Garrison, No. I, Regular
Army and Navy Union of the
United States of America, inclos
ing copy OF regulations adopted
at areeent meeting Of that garrison
in this city expressing hearty con
currence in the action oi the asso
citation of military surgeons in an.
nual session at St. Paul Mimi.
May 81, 1901, "recognizing thaI
the abolition OF the army can
teen has resulted, and must newt
ably result, in an increase OF in
temperance, insubordination, dis
content, desertion, and disease;'
deploring he action Of Congress:
in abolishing the canteen, and rec,
ommending its re. establishment al
the earliest possible date in the in
terests OF discipline and morality
In expressing concurrence in this
action, the Gen. J. M. Scho6eld
Garrison took occasion to ear
nestlY recommend the re-estab ablish
ment of the canteen as a part oil
the post exchange. on the ground
that ''it is for the best interests oil
both officers and men and to the
service generally"
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