The times., 1901-03-11
TERRoRIzED BY SOLDIERS.
Abolition of the Canteen Blamed for
the Chicago Riot.

CHICAGO, March 10.-Army officers
here declare that the adjustment Of the
canteen at military posts is responsible
for the disorderly acts OF soldiers from
Fort Sheridan in the saloons of High
wood a fashionable Chicago suburb,
where drunken soldiers from Fort Sheri-
dan. one mile distant, have demolished
several saloons. fired shots at inOffensive
citizens, and so terrorized the vicinity
that all day Friday, until two companies
of regulars had been sent from the fort
to patrol the town, arrest the culprits,
and preserve order, women were unable to
venture on the streets for fear of insult.
Since the canteen at the army post was
dispensed with dozen saloons have been
opened at Highwood and attractions
have been provided by the proprietors to
induce soldiers to visit their places. Cen
eral Otis commander of the Department
of the Lakes. said yesterday:
while / have received no official re-
port of the trouble at 'Highwood, / am
led to believe from the statements
made by the officers at the post that
things are lively up there. Fights and
brawls are likely to occur when soldiers
leave the reservation and drink a lot OF
vile whisky. Take a lot of your citizens
and pen them up as soldiers are and see
what they would do. There are large
number Of men at Fort Sheridan, just
now, including about $50 new recruits for
the Tweuty-ninth Infantry Regiment,
which is being organized. New men may
be relied upon TO help debauchery along.
Il was strongly opposed to the army
canteen when IL was first proposed pue
the War Department issued orders 70 es-
tablish them, and the drinking places
were opened. l was one of the officers
detailed to study the operation or the
canteen and note the effect on the men
From the investigation | found the can
teen worked so much better than i eX-
pected 1t would that l was compelled 70
endorse il. Under that system the prO!ts
of the canteen went TO buy dencacleS TOT
the mems table, so that they got the fun
benefit of all that was spent for beer on
the reservation Now the men spend
more money than before and the proiits
go to the owners of private gin mills
Although General Otis has issued no
official orders on the subject. the com
mander at Fort Sheridan VIII endeaVoi
to arrest the men responsible Ior the
trouble at HighwOod and have them trlsn
before court-martial The great dlfi-
Guilty in prosecuting soldiers in cases OF
this kind is, as q rule, the SalOOnksepeIs
refuse to testify for FEAR OF losing IN, tne
favor of their patrons. Nearly every sol
der at the fort has spent all the money
ne drew last Wednesday, and no turther
trouble is expected in Highwood Detore
next month. when the paymaster makes
another visit There was d scrimmage IN
one of the saloons last night, and 1t
looked for q few minutes as II the place
would be as thoroughly wrecked as II
Mrs. Nation had visited it. When front
window was broken the soldiers departed.
Fortunately for the citizens of High
wood the soldiers cannot all leave the
fort at the same time. As a result OF
this it takes the men about three days
to distribute most of the money ieit by
the paymaster. During these days strunken
men are as numerous on the streets as
sober ones.
Friday night four of the recruits at
tempted TO force a bartender 90 serve
them hot whisky under the threat that
they would put the place out OF busi-
ness If refused The barkeeper drew a
revolver and the recruits vanished.