Evening star., 1901-10-28
THE ARMY CANTEEN
GEN. MILES EXPLAINS HIS ATTITUDE
ON THE QUESTION.
He Desires the Present Law Shall
Have Fair and Full
Trial.

Gen. Miles today gave out additional in
formation to that contained in his regular
annual report, in explanation of his atti-
tude upon the question Of the army can
teen. In 1876 when colonel of the 5th In
fantry. he wrote letter to the House COM
mittee on military affairs calling attention
to the traders drinking saloons and recon-
mendins the prohibition of the sale of alco-
holic liquors at military posts. Gen. Miles
says he recommended to President Hayes
the order issued in 1881 prohibiting the sale
of Intoxicating liquors at military posts.
He also calls attention to an order issued
by him July 2, 1898, during the Spanish
war, in which he directed the restriction
or prohibition of the sale of light wines
and beers at military posts, "if the welfare
of the troops or the interests of the service
require such action
Order During Spanish War.
In that order Gen. Miles said: ''In this
most important hour of the nations nis-
tory it is due the government from all
those in its service that they should not
only render the most earnest efforts for
it's honor and welfare, but that their full
physical and intellectual force should be
given to their public duties, unconta ami
mated by any indulgences that shall dim,
Stultify, weaken or impair their faculties
and strength in any particular officers of
every grade, by example as well as by au-
thOrity, will contribute to the enforcement
of the order
Gen. Miles calls attention to the test!-
mony before the Senate committee in Jam
uary last when the canteen question was
under consideration. In the course of his
remarks to the committee he said in reply
to questions:
Il think it was on my recommendation
that the sale of alcoholic liquor was pro-
hibited in the army. That was done sew
eral years ago. / recommended it to Pres
ident Hayes. and / have the pen now with
which he wrote the order prohibiting the
sale of rum, gin brandy and whisky. 1t
did not pronibit the sale of light wines and
beers. That was a step / thought at that
time desirable; that was as far as l was
ready to go in that direction, and that or
der, think, has been of benefit to the serv-
Ice. The old way was very bad
because the suffers store was demoralizing
and / asked President Hayes to make that
order and he did it. Then, at the COM
mencement of the Spanish war. I called at
tention even to the sale Of beer and wine
urging that the department commanders
would reduce the use of it as much as pos
slble, particularly in the tropics in a gen.
eral order issued, and that was done'
The Post Exchange.
He was asked by the chairman of the
committee if he would say that the estab-
l1shment of the post exchange as it was at
that time Ganuary, 19OD had had a good
effect on the army Gen. Miles replied II
think it is far better than it was before. AS
to whether it would now be advisable to
prohibit everything Is a matter that you
can judge of we'll as can"
Cen Miles also called attention to an or
der issued by him August 8 last in which
he directed that "the exchange canteen
recreation or amusement room, as it was
Originally called. will be made as attractive
as possible and the recent law concerning
II Will be faithfully and Loyalty observed
Its AFFAIRS will be economically and Judi
c1ously administered for the benefit and
recreation of the troops"
1t is Gen. Miles desire that the anti-can-
teen law shall have fair and full trial.