Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-01-18
SHOULD BEER BE SOLD
IN THE ARMY cANTEEN Z

people.
The lower house of our Nationa
Legislature has just passed, by over
whelming majority, an amendment
to the Army Reorganization Bill
which reads:
'eThe sale of or dealing in beer
wine or intoxicating liquoer by any
i'm any post, exchange or canteen, q
anyarmy transport, OrupOn any prem
ises used for military purposes by thC
United States is hereby prohibited
The Secretary Of War is hereby di
rected to carry the provisions of this
section into full force and effect"
The Senate Committe on Military
Affairs has reported it to the Senate
with the recommendation that II
pass, words ''beer'' and "or any intox'
icating liquors" strickenlout, and the
words 'or any distilled spirits" sub
stituted.
This would permit the sale of beer
and any fermented liquor except
wine on all premises and transports
used by military purposes by the
American Army.
If beer drinking helps our soldiers
morally, mentally and physically,
thereby fitting them better to defend
our country and to represent its prin-
ciples, then this Senate amendment
should be accepted.
WHAT Is THE NATURE OF BEER?
Chemical analysis shows that beer
contains from three to five per cent,
sometimes more, alcohol. 1t is un-
disputed that alcohol has the power,
taken even in small amounts, to
create an uncomfortable and destruc-
tive appetite for more; therefore, beer
is a dangerous drink that invites to
an increased use of alcohol, which
may lead to drunkenness.
The effect Of the use ofbeer is brief
ly stated in the "London Lancet, the
foremost medical journal ofthe world,
which says, April l, 1899;
"Any Incl eased consumption OF
beer, however good for the brewers
and the national exchequer, will not
conduce to sObriety or to diminution
of the disease and misery production
of alcohol"
Nearer home testimony from the
"Scientific American" says:
"Beer not only creates an appetite
for something stronger, but its inn
mediate influence and effect upon
crime are more dangerous in the COM
munity than the stronger liquors, in
this way: The excessive use OfstrOng-
er drinks is liable to make men drunk
and helpless, unable to do much,
harm. while beer eXcites men to acts
of violence, desperation and crime.
1.-THE use of beer has been found to
produce a species of degeneration OF
all the organs. In appearace the
beer drinker may be the picture OF
health, but in reality he is most in
capable of resisting disease"
SCIENTIFIC OBSERVERS OF ARMY
LIFE.
Men of German extraction in our
Army should be influenced by their
own great authorities. DIR. G. Won
Bunge, Professor of Physiological
Chemistry in the University OF
Basle, says:
.'In connection with the sanitation
of armies thousands Of experiments
upon large bodies of men have been
made, and have led to the result
that in peace and war, in every clim-
ate, in heat, cold and rain, soldier
are better able to endure the fatigues
of the most exhausting marches when
they are not allowed any alcohol"
DIR. Adolf Flick, Professor Of Ply.
siology in the University Of Wurtz-
burg, says:
at is quite beyond doubt that ev-
cry dose of alcohol, even the most
moderate, diminishes the strength. "
In perfect harmony with the fore
going is the testimony Of William B.
Rochester, Brigadier-GeneraI U. S.
A., (Retiredl;
isIt has been shown over and OveI
that those who endure the greatest
fatigue and exposure are the men
who do not drink"
'The Journal Of Inebriety, Octob-
er, 1893, says;
s'By order Of the Field-Marshal
Lord WOlseley, British commander
in-chieG careful and exhaustive eX'
periments were made with a view &
ascertaining the relative effects of al
cohOl and OF total abstinence upon the
physical endurance and staying quail
tiles Of the troops. One regimen
was deprived OF every form of alcO
holic drink, while another belonging
10 the same brigade was allowed t.
pDzchase, as usual, malt liquor at thu
canteen, and another would receive
a daily ration Of whiskey. In eacl
instance the experiment showed that
whereas, at the first, the regiment
which had received an allowance o
grog surpassed the other IN dash an'
in impetuosity, and lack Of spiri
and endurance. The same mauifes
tations, thOngh in a minor and slow
er degree, were apparent in the regi
menf restricted TO malt liquors
whereas, the men who had bcel
kept from every form of alcohol
drink increased IN staying power