Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-26
DOESN' ! Want GANIEEN
Commandant OF Soldiers Home
Is Opposed to Its Establish
ment Here.
Claims 1t Affords Temptation TO
Members Who Drink Only
Occasionally.
Addresses Superintendent OF
State Institutions on the
Subject.

dents of state institutions, held with
the state board of control, at Des
Moines Wednesday, Commandant C. c.
Horton. of the Soldiers Home, adj
dressed the superintendent on "The
Canteen.' Col. Horton is not in favor
of its establishment in the state insti-
tuition here. The Register of this morn
ing says of his address:
"Commandant c. C. Horton. of the
Soldiers Home, said before the state
institution superintendent and board
of control conference, Wednesday, that
the establishment of the canteen, be it
ever so we'll and strictly managed is, at
best, not q desirable adjunct to the
community and locality where it ex-
lists. However, he admitted that there
is an honest diversity of opinion on the
question.
In the soldiers homes the most diff
ficult problem is how best to restrain
and control those who are addicted to
over-indulgence in the drink habit, yet
among those addicted to drinking to
excess are found some of our brightest
and most genial good fellows: those
who made good records as soldiers, and
sober, good citizens. The commandant
said:
The establishment of the canteen
is claimed by some to be in the best In
terests of the members of the homes,
and that it's provision would tend to
restrain members from overindulgence
and would be for the best interests of
temperance. 1t is claimed that the
canteen would restrain these men from
going to the city and that the quantity
sold would be SO regulated as not to
cause tntoXication, that this method
would keep them from frequenting the
low doggeries to be found in the cities
where these homes are located.
"'While I am decidedly opposed to
the canteen, believing that its intro
duction would be baneful to the best
interests and happiness of the MEM
bers of the homes, l give full credit to
those who honestly take the opposite
view.
"My personal objection is that I do
not care to be held responsible for the
proper management of the canteen. We
have few men who may be habitual
About Z per cent of the
members of the homes are likely to be-
come intoxicated every three or four
especially about pension time.
To this class I believe the canteen
would be temptation that they could
not resist. The few drinks of beer that
would be allowed under the rules gov
arning the best regulated canteens
would only serve to create an appetite
I,in l. 4
very likely lead to their leaving the
grounds otherwise than by the gate. I
would not care to have one of these APP
pear before me charged with intoxica
ion and be told that had given him
he first drink that started the craving
'or indulgence. We have many men
Who are striving to abstain from drink,
men who refrain from going to the city
n order to keep out of temptation. 1t
s hardly right to furnish this tempta-
ion at the home.
Fifty per cent Of the members take |
IN occasional glass of beer, perhaps.
None of them favor the canteen. They
ear it's establishment would lead to too
reqnent Indulgence. Those h.ost fire.
luently up for intoxication are most
strongly against the establishment of
he canteen.'
''Commandant Horton believes that if
Ill the men were drunkards, the can
cen might well be established, provid-
ID there were a tight fence and guards
It the gate to keep them In. He sug |
rests that one of the national homes
hould be set aside for the care of this
lass of the members of homes 1t |
would relieve all the others very ma |
erially The supplying of the homes
With libraries. gymnasiums, etc, now |
damned, will do much to do away with |
he demand for the canteen. The homes
we something to the large per cent |
Who never drink"