The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-02
COL. VAN HORNE's PLAIN TALK
TELLS THE REVEREND GENTLE
MEN OF EVILS FOLLOWING
ABOLITION OF CANTEEN
CAN'T CONVINCE THE PASTORS
DR.. ParlthurSt WouIdn't BE in Favor
OF the CaRteen Even on lIost
Convincing showing
of Its DcneGts.

CHICAGO, May THE committee Of
clergymen appointed by the ministers
association of Chicago to investigate the
effect of the abolshment of the army
canteen at Fort Sheridan paid secret
visit to the post today and ran into a
hornets nest.
The reports Of the people living near
the post have been to the effect that the
number of intoxicated soldiers in the
vicinity of the post has been materially
increased since the abolishment Of the
canteen, and the ministers went to the
post to investigate for themselves. The
members of the committee were: Rev.
Dr. Parkhurst, of the Anti-Saloon League;
Rev. a. r. 1hain, Of Oak Park, rep.6-
senting the Congregationalists, Rev. ).
b. Dexter, representing the Baptists;
Rev j. S. Hughes, representing the
Christian churches.
Besides these gentlemen, eX-Chief Of
Police Bartram, of Evanston, and Rev.
DR.. Wright, president of the Presby-
terian preachers, were In the party.
Col. Van Horne greeted the visitors
aHably ana at once ordered the call to
be sounded summoning the officers OF
the fort TO the place. The following Off
GERS reported: Capt. Ely Capt Mad
den, Capt. Morrow, Maj Thorpe, Lieut..
Ross Chaplain Vattman.
Dr. Parkhurst opened by stating the
causes that had brought the party to the
fort He said the committee represent
ed a quarter Of million church people
who were glad the canteen feature Of
the army had been done away with
Col Van Horne arose and took from his
pocket a newspaper clipping in which it
was said that DR.. ParlIhurst had ao-
cused army officers of receiving cham
payne and other liquors without any
bills attached.
PARKHURSTs CHARGES.
First OF ALL" said the colonel, 81 mean
to ask DR.. Parkhurst whether he made
these charges against the army officers"
i did not replied DR.. ParlIhurst.
will you deny it over your signature
in the paper that published it?"
NO said DR.. ParkhursI, I will not
do that; never write to the newspapers.
I always get the worst of it,"
But it is due to US that you deny It
if you did not say it,"
Il deny it here before you, gentlemen"
said DR.. Parkhurst, but I Will not go
further"
Or. Parkhurst then made a request that
the reports of court-martial cases be
furnished the committee in order to show
whether the abolition of the canteen on
Feb. had increased the amount OF
drunkenness. Col. Van Horne agreed to
this, but on account of time required 10
get the figures It was agreed that the re-
port should he forwarded to the com
mittee in Chicago.
But you cannot use the report as a
criterion" said Col Van Horne, for sew
eral hundred of the mer now az Fort
Sheridan are brand new soldiers who
come from farms mostly and who cannot
be expected to know the rules of tho
army and obey them as we'll as the old
er men. Then, too, the majority Of these
men received little CT no pay at the last
pay day; consequently they could not
a Ia- t.-.F.
the men who violated the rules were not
court-martialed, being offenders for the
nrst time. So you cannot judge the mat
ter by the number Of courts martial
shown since the abolition Of the cantaen,
as compared with the same length Of
tiTne previous to the abolition"
This point made by the colonel led to
an argument on temperance, and Capt
Ely made a statement Regarding his ex-
perlence with the cantecn. DR.. Park
hurst dissentsd.
do you refuse to accept my word?"
asked Capt Ely.
No. answered DR.. Parbhurst. mot go
far as your own experience goes but 7
do not believe you know all about It,"
Then you are the first man / ever
saw returned the captain, "who takes
the word Of man on the street un-
known even by name, and refuses to ac-
cept the word Of an officer in the regular
army. When you say SO. you insult the
officer Of the army"
DR. Parkhurst thought differently.
w. c. II. u. AND CANTEEN.
A member OF the committee said some
thing about the w c. T. U. and at this
Col. Van Horne arose.
I'm my forty years in the army" he
said, "I never saw a w G. r. u woman
come to on army post to make an inyesti-
cation. They know nothing about it.
They would have their hands fun if thOv
took care Of their drunken fathers, lius-
bands and brothers."
"Ef you find" said Capt Morrow, aJl-
dressing Dr Parkhurst, that your in
VestigaNions prove the conditions since
the abolition of the carteen have not
been improved, will you then admit that
the canteen was not a detriment TO the
army?"
No" answered Dr.. Parkhurst; we
viii not ADMIT even then. We object to
having a Saloon run by the arna"
Il told you" exclaimed Col. Van
Horne that you came here cooked and
primed. What is the use Of your making
an investigation when your mind Is al
ready made up?"
IF you want to get at the facts in the
case, leaving out the ethical questions
involved" said Capt. Morrow, II would
suggest that you get before you about
twenty Of the priVates and question them
regarding the canteen. whether they
would consider themselves better off
with or without It"
The question of doing this was not
settled.
Lieut.. Ross, recently from the Philip
pines, where he was for a time the oll-
Ger in charge OF the post exchange, or
canteep. He said that before the can
teen was established IN the Philippines
tho soldiers drank vino. q deadly con
coction. After the coming of the can
teen, drunkenness fell off 80 per cent
Chaplain Vattman addressed the com
mittee, arguing in favor Of the canteen
AS the lesser of two evils.
After several hours of temperance argu-
meht the committee withdrew, having
accomplished little.