Washington sentinel., 1901-01-12
Lbe Canteen
Dust 60.

NDS OdlllSSl ( e m p r. ance
Dust 60. and ana uno% mo5aii's di..
cipline in the army was attacked
again last Tuesday in the Senate,
while the Army bill was under dis
cussion. The Senate Military Com
mittee had restored the provision
authorizing the canteen or post ex-
change, which had been stricken
out by the House.
This action was vigorously op-
posed by Senators Gallinger and
Hansbrough, and defended just as
vehemently by Senators Sewell,
Hawley, Money and Carter.
Mr.. Gallinger declared that the
old question whether saloons in
the army should be legalized again
was before Congress. He main
tanned that il beer was sold at post
exchanges other intoxicants, Of
course, would be sold. Mr.. Gal
linger made an extended argument
in support OF his position, quoting
many eminent authorities to prove
that the use of alcoholic stimulants
among men in and out OF armies
was most deleferious in its effects.
He urged that the committee
amendment be rejected and that
the bill be left so far as the canteen
question is concerned as it was
when it came from the House.
In reply to Mr.. Gallinger Mr..
Sewell, a member OF the Military
Committee, discussed the canteen
question at length. He had read
a letter from himself to the Ad-
iutant General OF the army, giving
his views on this subject. 1t pro-
ceeded on the general idea that the
sale OF beer is an absolute tenn
perance measure. Commenting on
it Senator Sewell said:
Mr.. President, that conveyed my idea
then from an experience Of thirty years
forty, probably - and l have not
changed my opinion one iota. 1 believe
today that the sale OF beer in army posts,
confined to beer, as it will be-which it
Is today except in the case of light wines
lis temperance measure anc is satis-
factory to the army, and will help the
discipline and the health Of every man
in the service.
find, on investig ating 1t, that since
beer has been sold under the cantsen
system and since there has been a re-
striction as to stronger liquors. the
courts martial have been very much less
than they were; that the desertions have
gone down 20 per cent; that the inmates
OF hospitals are reduced 40 per cent
that the men IN every way are in better
condition; that the young soldier who
can go to the post exchange and sill
down and read the magazines, who is
furnished with PAPER to write to hi.
friends, his mother, and his sisters, 1.
IN very much better condition than he
ever was before. When the post ex.
change did not exist that young man
after his military duties were over, hac
no place 10 go but his bunk or the salool
outside. AS rule he chose the latter
and there he was alone open to thu
great curse of drinking bad rum, but b.
was Induced to do, probably, what wa
worse for him and his health In addition
The canteen, as you may term it, tina
part Of the post exchange, is entirel
separate from the store. II may be 10
room adjoining, it may be IN the mex
building, but the wives OF officers an
men go to the store and trade freel,
and buy the little items that they cannc
Rei elsewhere. They never complai
Of the canteen. They never complai
of the fact that in the next room som
man may be taking drink OF beer. 81
eveu that is disassociated from tn
reading room, SO as not to allow an
inducement to lead young men astra,
They walk into the reading room an
they write to their wives, their s.stei
and mothers, ETC., and they pick up
magazine. They are not asked to tak
a glass Of beer, because there is r
reason why they should be, They al
a part oi the proprietors OF that as tn,
are Of the exchange. They are Il
owners OF il. 1t is their institution.
is not the institution of the Goverume
OF the United States. The GOverume
OF the United States has not doll
invested In il, but these men have.
Are you going to deprive them, uud