The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-28
4 SPLENDID IDEA.

There is great deal of good sense in
the suggestion made by the commander
at Fort Smelling. Lieut.. Col Quinton, re-
garding the canteen and its adjustment.
Indeed it would not be too much to say
that Col Quinton's remarks represent the
broadest and most intelligent proposal
yet made growing out of the canteen
discussion.
1t is most just to the author of the
suggestion that it should be stated in his
own language. 1t is as follows:
.s Ia like to see a comfortable
two-sJory building here that would serve
both as a club house and a drill hall.
one story could be made place for so
CiiI recrea ton The men could have
reading room with newspapers, maya
zines and books on file In another room
they could have all proper games. Else
where they could get soft drinks and
light lunches. A cook should be on hand
10 serve tea, coffee and prepare the food.
The post exchange should be included,
supplying all the variety of small arti-
Giles that the men need, or think they
need. The charges for everything should
be as they are now in the exchanges,
that is. merely enough to cover the
actual expense.
II is hard to understand why
such a sensible solution of the. canteen
question has not been suggested before.
That it is solution of that diftiulty,
and that the proposed plan would be in
the highest measure promotive of the
welfare of the enlisted men, no one viii
question who has even the most super
fetal knowledge of their habits and as
sociations.
Col. Quinton in his statement calls at
tention to the fact that there is no place
on the reservation at which the men can
spend their leisure hours agreeably, and
that with the approach of the cold
weather the condition in that respect
viii grow worse. In such situation
it is not at all surprising that the men
will seek outside the post the opportuni-
Ties of enjoyment which are denied them
within. Taking few hundred men in
constant daily association with each
other, with absolutely nothing to oc-
cupy their leisure hours, it is against
human nature that they should not seek
the forms Of relaxation which are Of
fered TO them outside when off duty.
With such a place of rendezvous at
their disposal, the time which must nee
essarily hang heavily on their hands can
be passed pleasantly and proftably By
them. The opportunities for self-inl-
provement which such a club house will
offer are known to every man who in
his youth has cultivated or sought such
places of recreation. There is the
amplest reason to believe that such a
club house would be resorted to by every
man while off duty, and there would ac-
cordingly be fewer men disposed to
drink. There would be many better SOL
diers and better men as the result, and
the entire military service of the United
States would soon feel the benehcent m
Huence of the post club house.
If those who have set themselves
the abolition of the canteen, as
well as those who have opposed that
undertaking, would concern themselves
actively in the organization of such a
movement they would be rendering TO
the enlisted soldier a service which is
not to be measured by the limited stand
ard of the good or the evil which ensues
from the establishment of the canteen or
its adjustment