The Somerset reporter., 1901-11-07
Against Beer Selling
[By the skowhegan W. c. T. U. ]

Last weeks REPORTER published an
extract from Gen. Miles official report
strongly disappearing of the eanteen,
and letter from Gen. Daggett, express
ing the same views, also recently appeared
in its columns. The following editorial
from the Boston Herald of Oct 81 will
be of interest along the same line;
IL Is so seldom one finds an officer of
the regular army defending the anti
canteen law that the letter which Capt.
Z. G.. Brooks sent to the New York
Evening Post is of interest. lt certainly
shows that the officers are not by any
means unit in favor Of allowing beer TO
be sold to the men. Capt. Brooks is
serving with the 11th United States CAV
airy, stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia,
only short distance from the national
capital. He states that the eanteepr or
post exchange, as IL Is officially calfed, il
not abolished. Il is simply no longer
allowed to sell beer and wine To the men.
The exchanges are still running, and At
Fort Myer there is one, equipped with q
pool table, which sells many things de
sired by the soldiers. Capt. Brooks
thinks that the whole discussion can be
-ummed up as the "beer question"
Strong liquors were always prohibited in
the exchanges and light wines never cut
much figure in the scales at the post ex-
changes. He states that Ii Is his genu-
inc conviction that the management of
beer selling by army officers at army
posts has done great deal to make it
appear the right thing for men to run
into debt for beer at the post exchange.
He does not think that 1t will be possible
to obtain an army of total abstainers,
but he feels sure that the men will i'm
prove steadily Ia this respect II they are
let alone, no beer put on sale in their ex-
changes, and the officers set them good
example.
He ends his letter by saying
81 think it a misfortune that no appro-
priation for post exchange buildings Is
ever asked for or permitted. In every
post In which have served, the exchange
building is the eyesore OF the post, since
only some old abandoned buildings can
be used for this purpose. | certainly
would have the government build fine
exchanges, put 10 gymnasiums, pool
tables, reading rooms, etc., since every
thing that makes for the moral, intellec-
tual and physical Improvement of the
soldiers Is not only to the advantage of
the government, but puts money in its
pocket. The loss by deserters and the
cost OF maintaining men in prison and in
the guard houses are very serious items
Ia the expense of the army. | do not
see why the existence and maintenance
of post exchange buildings, gymnasiums,
etc, or the condition OF the company
mess, should depend upon the amount OF
purchases Of unrelated things by the SOL
diers at the canteens."
Here would seem to be good chance
for the temperance advocates to do some
thing to better the condition of the en-
listed men In our army. Let them bring
as strong pressure on Congress for these
needed buildings at the larger army
posts as they did to have beer selling
stopped in the army post exchanges.
The W. G. T. U. is credited, at least by
its enemies, with having been largely in
fluential 10 the passage OF the antl-can-
teen bill. IL Is of interest to note In con-
nection with the above editorial, that an
Effort is now being made to increase the
comforts Of the enlisted men. AT pub
lie meeting held In Washington, Feb. II,
members of the Union and friends of the
cause were strongly urged to cooperate
with the national officers in seeking 70
influence Congress to make more liberal
appropriation for army subsistence. The
plain fare of the soldiers was described
In connection with visit to Fort Meyer
1t was urged that the government could
well afford to provide the army with a
larger variety OF good food and to fur.
nish such Injuries rs fresh fruit and
vegetables and milk, which were former
ly purchased with the profits OF the can
teen.