The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-20
cANTEEN VS.. SALOON.

about the streets when the saloons close
often see soldiers Extensively drunk
Such sights were not common IN the
DAYS of the post canteen, except "heh
TRANSPORTS came in with passing regl-
ments. It does not take a long memo
nv to recall the neat, quiet, self-respect-
ing regular garrison soldiers who were
once seen about town. They spent Mt
t1a time in the saloons, partly because
they did not want to pay three prices
for a drink which could be got at the
post canteen for one price and parity
because the social attractions OF the
camp were sufficient to keep them
there. No garrison town ever Jared
better with it's soldiers than Honolulu
Gid in 1899.
A few nights ago the writer OF this
topic boarded the tramcar leaving Fort
and King streets at Has p M TWO
artiIlerymen were then on their way
hack to camp. They were young fell
lows who looked as if they had been
well brought up. Neither was used to-
liquor. both were overcome by it, and
the inane jibes they passed, the witless
songs they sung, the unpleasant Things
they said, made the average sober pas
senger wish for policeman. the case
was not an exceptional one so late
traveller said The night trans oIteh
carry intoxicated soldiers who, it is
to be presumed, are the ones who SVEN
the guardhouse census spoken OF by
Major Davis in answer to the questions
of a member Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. Others are seen
struggling along the road which runs
from Moiliili to the camp, carrying
loads of swipes and okolehao.
OF course it will be said that this
does not prove that the young men
would not get as drunk in post can
teen. 1t will he urged that the differ
ence is simply that between men going
wrong in town where people see them
and in the camp where the public does
not know what is going on. But the
inference is not drawn from experience
in such matters. Those whose bust
ness, like that of newspaper men,
brings them in daily contact with all
forms of life, know that the convivial
man does his worst away from those
among whom he lives and to whom he
owes certain obligations. AS rule,
the man who drinks at home does 1t
moderately; if he drinks down town he
drinks more; if in another city he drinks
much. The soldier in camp is where
his superior officers can see and hear
him, and where the canteen regulations
are such that he cannot overdrink,
hence he tends towards moderation.
There is no bartender to urge him fur
Their; no registering companions take
him along the cocktail route from sa-
loon to saloon to indulge in mixed
drinks, finally landing him in a worse
place than bar room where he is piled
with bad liquor by those who would rob
him. Instead he finds himself in or
derby and decent surroundings, is given
a moderate amount of beer or wine, is
encouraged to play billiards or to read,
and when time is UP he goes to bed
sober Which is better for hirn-the
cocktail route in town or the mild in
diligence in the canteen
But why should he be permitted to
drink anywhere" asks the w. c. T. U.
The answer is that there is no way to
keep him from doing so short of either
the close confinement which no man
would enlist in the army to endure or
of that general statutory prohibition Of
the manufacture, use and sale of malt
and alcoholic beverages which would
put Intoxicating drinks beyond his
reach. While soldiers have liberty in
a country where beer, wine and spirits
are sold, they cannot be kept from
drinking. The best that can be done
is to regulate their use of stimulants,
as did the post canteen, combining it to
the miIder beverages and putting a
reasonable limit on consumption. Some
men will, of course, break out in town;
but owing to the relative cheapness of
camp beverages, which are sold nearly
at cost, the great majority will prefer
the canteen- Soldiers wages are small
and the temptation to make ten cents
go as far as twenty-five, gives the can
teen the bulk of their custom. The
principle is not unlike the Dispensary
in some of its chief aspects and to the
Dispensary our Anti : Saloon League
committed itself two years ago, without
reproof, so far as we recall the facts,
from the w. c. T. U.
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1t Will be noticed, as usual, that the