The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-11
The Army Cnnteen.

After a careful examination of the in
morals. general well being. and health of
the enlisted men OF the United States
Army, The Times has from the very
outset of the discussion of the question
most unhesitatingly thrown its influence
in favor of it, believing it to be the
best method yet devised to encourage
temperance and keep the private SOL
der away from cheap and demoralizing
grogshops and the gambling dens and
brothels to which such places, sooner or
later, are very apt to lead him.
The very acrimonious discussion of the
question in the Senate on Wednesday has
not changed our opinion in the slightest
degree. 1t is not generally known. but
it is nevertheless true, that the late
Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lawton, whom all
will concede to have been one of the
most practical soldiers cur army has
developed, was the first officer in the
United States Army 10 seize upon the idea
of the canteen and its benefits. as it ex-
isted in the British army in India, and to
put it in practical working shape, al
though at the time he did 1T he was only
a captain in the Fourth United States Cav
airy, stationed at Fort Huachuca, in Ari-
zona. At his earnest solicitation he was
permitted to try the experiment upon his
own company only. as at that time there
was a regularly appoia'ed post trader at
the fort, who had paid for large and ex-
psnslve plant in which to house his wares
and had an unusually fine stock of goods
and was selling them in strict accordance
with army regulations. and who naturally
enough protested against Lawtons action.
A purse, contributed to by the captain
and the enlisted men of his troop. was
promptly made up, small stock of goods
suca as the men desired, including liquors.
both malt and spirituous, was laid in. and.
under the supervision of an old, reliable
sergeant, sold 20 the men of the troop at
about one-haIf the prices charged by the
post trader. Within eight months the
company fund of Lawton's troop had en-
abled the troop TO buy and pay for a
billiard table of its own, subscribe TO
all the best periodicals going, for the
Of the new popular books. and purchase
by far the finest set OF especially decorated
china table ware and table linen for the
daily use Of the troop. owned by any one
company OF enlisted men in our army. or.
in all probability. by the enlisted men of
any company Of any army in the world
And what was better still. Lawtons men
did not haunt the bar OF the post trader
and 1t was an unusually good bar. too.
This was an object lesson and some
years later, when Captain Lawton be-
came Major Lawton and one Of the in
spectors general OF the army, the whole
weight Of his influence was thrown in
favor of the canteen and against tho old
system OF suffers, or post traders.
book which has recently been pub
lished by D. Appleton g. Co., OF New York.
entitled The Story OF the Soldier" writ
ten by Gen. C. 4. Forsyth (retiredj. of
the United States Army takes up this |
question Of the sale of liquor TO the en-
listed men Of the army and the attempt |
to deprive them Of it. and shows The re-
suit OF such action so plainly that we |
think It timely and wise to quote freely |
from it, which we 10 in another column. |
These statements of General Forsyth |
seem TO be the average experience Of most
officers who served on the frontier during |
the existence Of the Hayes order. The at
tempt to deprive the soldier OF his legal |
right TO spend his own hard-earned money |
as he chooses by forbidding the sale of |
spirituous liquors within the canteen |
will drive him to the most wretched sur
roundings to obtain it. 1t is this state of |
affairs which the thoroughly good and |
religious women of the W. c. T. L.. whom |
no one holds in higher respect than The |
Times does seem determined to force uron |
the army. Can they not see where it will |
lead the men? In their own canteen the |
enlisted men are surrounded by goGN in
nuences only. 1t is. In effect their recrea-
tlon room; they have no other. In truth |
they nave no society whatever either on !