Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-02
CAN TEEN INIQU|SIT|ON
Runs Up Against a Lively Dis
pute When Began at Fort
Sheridan.
PREACHERS AFTER INFORMATION
Told Their Minds Are Made Up and
That They Are Not Open to
Conviction.


hurst and the canteen committee ran
into u hornets nest at Fort Sheridan
yesterday The committee made a Sc
cret trip from Chicago to the fort,
with the purpose of ascertaining the
facts about the canteen. The mem-
bers of the committee met Col. Van
Horne and his staff ut the officers
headquarters and quickly got tangled
up i'll a stiff argument on the subject
of temperance. The members of the
committee were: Rev. DIR. ParkhurSt,
of the Anti-Saloon League; Rev. y. Il.
Thain, of Oak Park, representing the
Congregationalists; Rev. :. Il. Dexter,
oil 112 Humboldt park boulevard, rep
reSenting the BaptiStS; Rev. j. :.
Hughes, of 3149 Indiana avenue, rep
resenting the Christian churches.
Opening Remarks Are Made,
When this committee met Col. Van
Horne and his officers the trouble be-
gan. DIR. Parkhurst opened by stat
ing the causes that had brought the
party TO the fort-the desire TO find
out whether the abolition of the can
teen in the army was really attended
by the serious consequences that had
been attributed to it. DIR. ParkhurSt
said the committee represented Il quar-
ter of Il million church people who
We're glad the canteen feature of the
army had been done away with. Col.
Van Horne took from his pocket a
newspaper clipping. in which it was
said that DIR. ParkhurSt had accused
army officers of receiving champagne
and other liquors, without any bills
attached.
Declines to Print His Denial.
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.. Park
hurst.
viii you deny it over your sigma
ture in the paper that published it,"
No said DR.. ParkhurSt. Il will not
do that. l never write to the news
papers. | always get the worst of it,"
But it is due us that You deny it,
if you did not say it," y deny it here.
before you gentlemen" said DR.. Park
hurst, but | will not go further
As To COurts-MartiaI,Cases.
DIR. Parkhurst then made Il request
that the reports of court martial cases
he furnished the committee. in order
10 show whether the abolition of the
canteen on Feb. had increased the
number. Colonel Van Horne agreed to
this, but gave general reasons why
conclusions deducted from these re-
ports would be likely to be erroneous.
SHARP DIFFERENCES DEVELOP.
Investigators Refuse to Accept ConcIu-
sive the Officers Testimony.
This point made by the colonel led
to an argument on temperance, and the
talk grew rather personal. Captain
Ely took u hand and made a state
ment regarding his experience with
the canteen. DR.. Parkhurst dissented.
Captain Morrow made an address ia
Voring the canteen, and Colonel Van
Horne said that 80 per cent. of army
officers believed it to be the lesser of
two evils.
''You do believe it to be an evil,
them asked DR.. Parkhurst.
Liquor may be an evil returned
the colonel. but which is the greater
the saloon outside or the canteen in
sideE'
A member of the committee said
something about the w. c. L. T., and
at this Colonel Van Horne arose. In
my forty years in the army he said,
Il never saw w. c. T. u. woman
come to an army post TO make an in
vestigation. They know nothing about
it. In my opinion they would have
their hands full if they took care of
their drunken fathers, husbands and
brothers,
IF you think" replied DR.. Park
hurst. that the legislation in the sen
ate and house at Washington which
resulted in the abolition of the canteen
was made without anybody knowing
anything about the matter. L will have
to say that you do not know much
about it yourself,''
You are cooked and primed,' said
Colonel Van Horne. All our talk will
never convince you, because you came
here intending not to be convinced
You are wrong replied DR.. Park
hurst. 1T is you who Will not be con-
vinced.'
You are blind" said Colonel Van
Horne. -
At this point one of the committee
said: There is more nourishment in
one egg than in five or six glasses OF
beer"
1T is not question of nourish-
ment," said the colonel.
IF you find" asked Captain Nor
row, addressing DIR. Parkhurst. that
your Investigations prove the condi-
tions since the abolishment of the can
teen have not been improved, will you
then admit that the canteen was not
a detriment to the army2"
No" answered DIR. Parkhurst: 1--WE
will not admit even then. We object
to having a saloon run by the army"
''I told you." exclaimed Colonel Van
Horne. that yau came here cooked
and primed What is the use of your
making an investigation when your
mind is already made up?''