Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-02
OPINIONS
NOT TO Be RECONC|LED.
A DELEGATION OF PREACHERS
VISITS FORT SHERIDAN,
NEAR CHICAGO,
FOR CANTEEN INFORMATION.
A RATHER WARM ARGUMENT
THAT ACCOMPLISHED VERY
LITTLE.

CHICAGO, May 1.-The committee OF
clergymen appointed by the ministers
association of Chicago to investigate
the effect of the adjustment 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 number of
intoxicated soldiers in the vicinity of
the post has oeen materially increased
since the adjustment of the canteen
and the ministers went to the post to
investigate for themselves.
Col. Van Horne greeted the visitors
be sounded summoning the officers of
the fort to the place.
Dr. Parkhurst, of the anti-saloon lea
gue opened by stating the causes that
had brought the party to the fort. He
said the committee represented quar-
ter of million church people who were
glad the canteen feature of the army
had been done away with.
DR.. Parkhurst then made a request
that the reports of court-martial cases
be furnished the committee in order to
show whether the abolition of the can
teen on February had increased the
amount of drunkenness. Col. Van
Horne agreed to this, but on account of
the time required to get the figures, it
was agreed that the report should be
forwarded to the committee in Chicago.
But you cannot use the report as a
criterion" said Col Van Horne, ''for
several hundred of the men now at Fort
Sheridan are brand new soldiers who
come from farms mostly and who can
not be expected to know the rules of
the army and obey them as the older
men"
This point made by the colonel led
to an argument on temperance, and
Captain Ely made a statement regard
ing his experience with the canteen.
DR.. Parkhurst dissented.
Capt. Morrow made an address favor
ing the canteen, and Col Van Horne
said that s5 per cent. of army officers
believed it to be the lesser of two
evils.
A member of the committee said
something about the w. c. T. u, and
at this Col. Van Horne arose.
I'm my forty years in the army" he
said, Il never saw a w. c. T. U. wo-
man come to an army post to make an
investigation. They know nothing
about it. In my opinion, they would
have their hands full if they took care
of their drunken fathers, husbands and
brothers"
IF you think" replied DR. Parkhurst.
that the legislation in the Senate and
House at Washington. which resulted
in the abolition of the canteen, was
made without knowing anything about
the matter, l have to say to you that
you do not know much about it your
self"
You are cooked and primed," re-
peated Col. Van Horne. "All our talk
will never convince you because you
came here intending not to be con-
WINGED"
you are wrong" replied Dr. Park
hurst. at is you who will not be con-
vinced."
You are blind" said Col. Van
Horne
If you want to get at the facts in
the case, leaving out the ethical ques-
tons involved" said Captain Morrow
Il would suggest that you get before
you about twenty of the privates and
question them regarding the canteen-
asking them whether they would con-
slider themselves better off with or with
out it."
The question OF doing this was not
settled.
Chaplain Vatman addressed the com
mittee in favor of the canteen as the
lesser of the two evils.
After several hours of temperance
argument the committee withdrew
having accomplished little.