Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-02
INVESTIGATE THE CANTEEN.
Ministers at Fort Sheridan Run Into q
Hornets Nest.

Hornets Nest.
The committee Of clergymen appointed
by the Ministers Association of Chicago
to investigate the effect Of the adjustment
of the army canteen at Fort Sheridan paid
a secret visit to the post yesterday, and
ran into a hornets nest, says an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch.
| The reports of the people living near the
post have been to the effect that the num-
Der OF Intoxicated soldiers in the vicinity
of the post has been materially increased
since the adjustment Of the canteen and
the ministers went to the, post to investi-
gate for themselves. AZ
The members of the committee were:
Rev. DR.. Parkhurst Of the ,Anti-Saloon
representing the Congregationalists; Rev.
s. B. Dexter, representing the Baptists:
Rev. j. S. Hughes. representing the Chris
tian churches. sa
Col. Van Horne greeted the, visitors af-
fably. and at once ordered the call to be
sounded summoning the officers of the fort
to the place The following, ,offic re-
ported: Capt. Ely, Capt. Madden, Capt.
lain Vattman.
Dr. Parkhurst opened by stating the
causes that had brought the party to the
fort. He said the committee represented
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
army officers of receiving champagne and
other liquors without any bills attached.
First Of ALL said the colonel. Il mean
to ask DR.. Parkhurst whether he made
these charges against the army officers
Il did not" replied DR.. Parkhurst.
will you deny 1t over your signature
| in the paper that published it?"
No" said DR.. Parkhurst; Il will not do
that / write TO the
always get the worst of it,.
But it is due us that you deny it if you
did not say it,
Il deny it here before you gentlemen
said DR.. Parkhurst, but 1 will not go
further
Capt. Ely made a statement regarding
his experience with the canteen. DR.. Park
hurst dissented.
DO you refuse to accept my word?"
asked Capt Ely.
NO" answered DR.. Parkhurst, mot so
far as your own experience goes. but / do
not believe you know all about it.
Then you are the first man l ever saw
returned the captain. who takes the word
of man on the street. unknown even by
name, and refuses to accept the word Of
an officer in the regular army. When you
say so you insult the officers of the army"
DR.. Parkhurst thought differently.
Il see" said Col. Van Horne. that you
thing we can say to you. 1 still insist you
are unfair. You are cooked and primed
and blind. You came here with your mind
made up
Capt Morrow made an address favoring
the canteen, and Col Van Horne said that
% per cent of army officers believed 1t to
be the lesser of two evils.
DO you believe it to be an evil, then?'
asked DR.. Parkhurst.
Liquor may be an evil" returned the
colonel, ''but which is greater-the saloon
outside or the canteen inside?"
A member Of the committee said some
thing about the Woman's Christian Tenn
arose
In my forty years in the army" he said.
81 never saw w. G. I. U. woman come
to an army post to make an investigation.
They know nothing about It, In my opin-
ion they would have their hands full If
they took care of their drunken fathers,
husbands and brothers,
eff you think" replied DR.. Parkhurst,
that the legislation In the Senate and
House at Washington which resulted In
the abolition of the canteen was made
without anybody knowing anything about
the matter 1 will have to say that you do
not know much about 1t yourself
you are cooked and primsd." repeated
Col. Van Horne. Gan our talk will never
convince you, because YOU came here in
tending not to be convinced."S
You are wrong" replied De. Parkhust.
cit is you who will not be Convinced
"You are blind said Col. Van Horne.
After several hours of temperance argu-
ment the committee Withdrew, having ac-
comnlfShed little