The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-02
HORNETS NEST
Is AROUSED BY A COMMITTEE OF
CHICAGO CLERGYMEN.
Several Divines Pay n Secret Visit to
Fort Sheridan To Investigate
the Canteen Question.
WORDY EXCHANGE FOLLOWS
ARMY OFFICERS RESENT STATE
MENTs OF THE PREACHERS.
They Maintain that Abolition of the
Canteen Has Increased
IntOxicatiOn.
COL. VAN HORNE HAS A TILT
WITH DIR. PARKHURsT AND ALMOST
LOSES HIS TEMPER.
He Charges the Preacher with Being
Cooked and Primed," and Again
that He Is Blind.
CHICAGO, May 1.-The committee OF
clergymen appointed by the Minister'S
They Maintain that Abolition of the
Canteen Has Increased
IntOxicatiOn.
COL. VAN HORNE HAS A TILT
WITH DIR. PARKHJRST AND ALMOST
LOSES HIS TEMPER.
He Charges the Preacher with Being
Cooked and Primed," and Again
that He Is Blind.

CHICAGO, May 1.-The committee OF
clergymen appointed by the Ministers
Association of Chicago to investigate the
effect of the abolition of the army canteen
at Fort Sheridan, paid a secret visit to the
post to-day and ran into hornets nest.
The reports of the people living near the
post have been TO the effect that the num-
Der of intoxicated soldiers in the vicinity
of the post has been materially increased
since the abolition of the canteen, and the
ministers went to the post to investigate
for themselves. The members of the COM
mittee were: Rev. Dr. Parkhurst, of the
Oak Park, representing the Congregation
alists: Rev. S. B. Dexter, representing the
Baptists; Rev. j. S. Hughes. representing
the Christian Church Besides these gen.
tlemen, ex-Chief of Police Bartram. of
Evanston, and Rev. DR. Wright, president
of the Presbyterian Preachers Association
were in the party.
Colonel Van Horne greeted the visitors
sounded, summoning the officers of the
fort to the place. The following officers
reported: Captain Ely, Captain Madden.
Captain Morrow, Major Thorpe. Lieutenant
Ross, Chaplain Vattman. DR.. Parkhurst
opened by stating the causes that had
brought the party to the fort He said the
committee represented quarter of mill
lion church people who were glad the cam
teen feature of the army had been done
away with.
Colonel Van Horne arose and took from
his pocket a newspaper clipping in which
ii was said that DR.. Parkhurst had accused
army officers of receiving champagne and
other liquors without any bills attached.
First of ALL said the colonel II mean
to ask DR.. Parkhurst whether he made
these charges against the army officers
81 did not" replied DIR. Parkhurst
''Will you deny it over your signature in
the paper that published it?''
NO" said DIR. Parkhurst "I will not do
that. 1 never write to the newspapers.
always get the worst OF it,
But it is due us that you deny it. If you
did not say it,"
81 deny 1t here before you gentlemen" !"
said DR.. Parkhurst, 'but | will not go fur
ther.'
REPORTS NOT READY.
DR.. Parkhurst then made a request that
the reports of court-martial cases be fur
nished the committee, in order to show
whether the abolition OF the canteen on
Feb. had increased the amount of drunk
enness. Colonel Van Horne agreed to this.
but on account of the time required to get
the figures Ii was agreed the report should
be forwarded to the committee in Chicago.
But you cannot use the report as cri-
terion." said Colonel Van Horne. FOR sew
eral hundred of the men now at Fort Sher-
idan are brand-new soldiers, VINO came
from farms mostly and who cannot be ex-
rected to know the rules OF the army and
obey them as well as the older men. Then,
too, the majority of these men received lit
tie or no pay at the last pay day, so con-
sequently they could not buy much liquor.
large proportion of the men who violated
the rules were not court-martialed, being
offenders for the first time. So you cannot
judge the matter by the n0mber of court
martials shown since the abolition of the
canteen as compared with the same length
OF time previous TO the abolition"
The point made by the colonel led 10 an
argument on temperance and Captain Ely
made a statement regarding his experience
with the canteen. DR.. Parkhurst dis
sented.
do you refuse to accept my word?"
asked Captain Ely.
NO" answered DR.. Parkhurst. mot 20
far your own experience goes but
don't believe you know all about it,
Then you are the first man / ever saw"
returned the captain. who takes the word
of man on the street, unknown even by
name. hnd refuses TO accept the word OF
al officer of the regular army. When you
say so you insult the officers of the army"
DR.. Parkhurst thought differently.
81 see." said Colonel Van Horne, that
you are perfectly blind. DR.. Parkhurst. to
that you are unfair. You are cooked and
primed and blind You came here with
your mind made up"
Captain Morrow made an address favor
ing the canteen. and Colonel Van Horne
believed ii to be the lesser of two evils
''You do believe it to be an evil then ?"
asked DR.. Parkhurst.
Liquor may be an evil" returned the
colonel. but which is the greater-the sa-
Icon outside or the canteen inside?''
SLAP AT THE w. c. T. L.
A member OF the committee said some
thing about the w. c. r. L. and at this
point Colonel Van Horne arose. "In the
army" he said II never saw w. e. L. T..
woman come 10 an army post to make an
investigation. They know nothing about
il. In my opinion they would have their
hands full if they took care of their
drunken fathers. husbands and brothers =
"lf you think" replied DIR. Parkhurst
that the legislation In the Senate and
House at Washington, which resulted an