Arizona daily citizen., 1901-06-20
THE ARMY CANTEEN.

Washington dispatch states that effort will
be made when Congress conyenes to restore the Post
Exchange, it is popularity known, the Can
teen to the army
Persons who are not familiar with the Canteens
might infer from the name that they simply
drinking saloons, and doubtless many who have ask
ed Congress to prohibit them did so under that i'm
preston In point of fact the sale of wine and beer
at the army canteen is only incidental feature al
though an important The canteen Is a social
club for the soldiers, place where they can smoke
their pipes read the newspapers and play such games
are played at Young Mems Christian Association
In addition to this it is store where articles
most needed by enlisted men, including varieties OF
food which not served with ratons, can be pur
chased at cost. The canteen had been a feature OF
army posts for years when abolished by Con-
gress at the last session. The enlisted are III
favor of them, the Secretary Of War is said to favor
their restoration and the army officers agree with
him almost a whole and the chapains or at least
good many OF them opposed their abolition
Those who objected to the canteens were mostly
old women, and unsexed men. Of course, the Pro-
hibitionists always unreasonable, irrational and IL
logical went in strong to drive the canteens from the
posts and camps.
Last year, while the army bill was pending, the
argument between the two sides extremely acr-
monious. Upon the part of the Prohibitionsts 1t
was urged that the authorized canteen putting
temptation in the way of the enlisted and that
many young men first acquired the habit of drinking
at the canteens and that if no such temptation had
been placed before them they might have escaped
1t also urged that it is unseemy for the Govern
ment to countenance drinking among the soldiers.
Against this view of the the army officers argued
that if the men provided with comfortable
clubroom in the post, where they could get beer,
they would be satisfied with that and would not leave
the post to get whisky that at the canteen drunken
not permitted, while in outside saloons being
removed from military discipline, drunkenness and
grave disorders resulted.
The effect of the abolition of the canteens was
awaited with interest and army contend that it
has justified the position they took They say that
Immediately after the law went Into effect low saloons
where very bad whisky is Sold sprang up around
the army posts that the soldiers frequent these places
that drunkenness and disorder have resulted, that
arrests frequent and discipline diff
cult In short they contend that the law abolishing
the canteen has proved to be law to promote drink
ing and drunkenness rather than temperance and So
briefly
ANY man, with any knowledge of tho average
soldier must know that any institution that tends to
keep the soldier in camp in post is beneficial to
him. When the soldier leaves the post he invaria-
bly, strikes low groggery where poison whisky is
the stable article He fills up and in nine out
OF ten he goes ION the rampage. AS result he is
sent to the guard house, fined, mayhap sentenced
to military prison. In the post canteen he is con-
stantly subject to the military influence and under
the watchful eyes of the officers With considerable
knowledge of the army, and some experience in COM
mand of troops, the writer of this AYERS that he can
Nk oH %;a1 %ho&o ,toI .
canteen. On the other hand when soldiers seek the
groggeres beyond the military Jurisdiction, courts
martial follow as naturally as night follows day
The fact is we indulge in too much namby pam
by about the army and its care What do lot of
old women and unsexed men know about controlling
lot of men full of animal life? The army is not
Sunday school, and the men who compose it are not
in need of nursing bottles. They are vire men,
They are trained to fight. Killing is their trade
The mon who are responsible for the order and dis
cipline OF the army in favor of the canteen al
most to man. II was Bismarck who said that he
pited the battalion where the chaplain had more in
fuence than the major. What are we to think of a
Congress where the old women have more influence
in matter involving the discipline and we'll being
oi the army, than the officers of the army who have
made the matter life study?
II IL absurd and foolish and wrong Soldiers
must nave xecreation. III they cant have 1t legally
they will have it illegally Soldiers will wet their
whistle after pay day, and If they can't do with
beer at the canteen, they will do it with bad whisky
outside the post
Congress was guilty OF great mistake when it
abolished the canteen, and it's plain duty is to correct
that mistake BY providing for ts re-establishment
-=====
WHEs Governor Murphy and Charley Akers kiss
and make friends we speak for reserved seats.