The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-12-05

A UNIQUE figure in the political history of
Colorado was Davis II. Waite, former governor of
the state who died last week. He was one of the
most sincere of men and yet universally thought
to be demagogue he had the interests of his state
very much at heart and still did to dscredit it
in the eyes of the balance of the world than any
other single individually he always tried to act for the
best interests of the people, and usually made
failure of what he attempted.
In 1892 Mr. Waite was elected governor of
Colorado the Populist ticket. In of his
campaign speeches he said: Il would rather wade
in blood to the bride bits than to submit to the
dictates of Wall street and it's Infamous conspiracy,
meaning the supposed conspiracy against silver, and
after that he was universally known as "Blood to-
the Brides Waite. During his administration the
commonwealth was in perpetual hot water and he
according to most mems minds-was always the
wrong side of the fence When the big Cripple Greek
strike occurred and the worst element among the
miners destroying property right and left,
Governor Waite ordered the militia to the camp to
take the part of the strikers against the deputy
sherfs who had been sent to arrest them and it
only through the strenuous efforts of the most
prominent in the state that pitched battle
averted. The Denver police commissioners he
appointed in the first year OF his term did not satisfy
him. and in his second year he tried to them
Again there almost a battle. The commits
soners barricaded themselves behind the closed
doors of the city hail. armed and accoutred to the
teeth The militia was again called on by the
governor, who actually issued the order to fire on
the city hall but persuaded to countermand the
order before it was executed. He re-nominated
and, after bitterly personal campaign, defeated by
large majority, the doing their share in the
bo from op1
lived very quietly until his death a week ago.
IT IS announced that the vexed question of the
post exchange, otherwise known the army canteen
will not be resurrected at the coming session of
congress- but will be held until good substi-
tute for the canteen be agreed upon. 1t is
strange no one has ever seriously proposed local
option as means of settling the question No one
denies that soldiers always have drank and always
will drink-it is the idea of drinking under govern
ment surveillance that seems to be Objectionable
and even the most sanguine reformers did not i'm
agine they could abolish drinking in the army by
abolishng the canteen. But since it is admitted by
all that the will drink, SINCE Kipling puts it,
they are not plaster saints" why wouldn't it be
good plan to leave the establishment abolition of
the canteen to them? 1t certainly would not in
terfere with discipline.
Through the efforts of Lord Roberts, himself firm
believer in total abstinence, the British army in
India has abolished the canteen and substituted
club or an "insttute'' as it is called for the en-
listed men, In it the men have the same privileges
and almost the comforts, the officers have in
their clubs. There reading writing, dining and
billiard rooms; and while alcoholic beverages par
ticularly beer-may be had with meals, excessive
drinking is not countenanced. The Institutes are,
of course self-supporting. The plan seems to be
good one it to fill all the requirements of the
British soldier who says he would not return to the
canteen if he could.
The chief difference between the soldier and the
civilian is the uniform. In both walks of life
men drink to excess some drink in moderation,
while others do not drink at ALL but all desire social
intercourse with their fellows and if they can't meet
in club they will meet in saloon, because there
they pay their way, talk unrestrctedy and while
there is any money in their pockets, always be sure
they are welcome. The abolition of the canteen
hasn't changed this.
The trouble with insttuting any reforms in this
country is that every body has something to say
the subject-whether they know anything about it
or not. Preachers and temperance lecturers have
say in the management of the army and men who
never the would like to dictate the policy
of the navy. Consequently it would be difficult to
naugurate anything like Lord Roberts institutes
in fho mite VIII inter cted in