Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-11-25
ARMY
Canteens Againln
Public Eye.
Reports Received by
War Department
Causes Situation To Be Regarded
as Serious.

Washington. Nov. 25-The War de-
partment ~ in constant receipt Of data
concerning the canteen question
and the effect of its abolition
upon the army. Apropos of this
the statement is made at the War
department that only such information
as has been contained In the reports Of
army officers upon the subject has been
given to the public. and 1t Is denied
that any effort has been made to in
fiuence public opinion in the matter.
II is said at the department that the
recommendation of the Adjutant Gen,
eral In his annual rgoort were based
uDon tie information contained in
these reports. 1t is pointed out that the
existence Of something like 1,400 sa-
looms in the vicinity of the army posts
is shown by the reports received at the
department. $50 to 300 Of which are
said to have boon opened since the clos
ing OF the canteen. This further state
ment is made at the department.
The majority Of posts have reported
that drunkenness and court-martials
| for drunkenness have increased: that
desertion and absence without leave
\ have increased; that the effect of the
closing of the canteen upon the moral
ity. discipline. and health of the troops
has been bad. and while many post
commanders are, in consequence of
frequent changes of garrison and from
the absence of correct data upon which
to base comparisons, unable to report
al to the degree Of detriment created
by the closing Of the canteen, 1t can be
stated as an absolute fact that in no
single case has n post commander ex-
pressed an opinion that the effect Of
the abolition Of the sale of beer in the
army has resulted In improved condi-
tons"
Attention is called to the reports
from army officers in the Philippines,
and 1t is said at the department that,
while the reports on the subject are too
voluminous to be given to the press,
they are on file and are at the call Of
Congress IL they should be desired.
With reference to the reports from
the Philippines. a statement has been
made public at the War Department,
epitomizing the annual report of Briga-
dier General Sanger, inspector general
Of the division of the Philippines. After
narrating the evil effects upon the hu-
man system of the native liquors, the
statement continues:
"To remedy these conditions the post
exchange, at which light beer was sold,
was exercising wholesome influence,
and General Sanger believes that the
exchange should be again made a
possibility by removing all restric-
tions on the sale of beer and light
wines
ITO the fear. so often expressed by
the opponents Of the canteen system,
that the sale of beer would initiate or
induce habits Of intemperance, Cen
eral Sanger shows from careful CEN
sus of the 342 companies of troops
in the Philippine Islands that in 60
companies every enlisted man used
vinous. malt. or spirituous liquors at
date Of enlistment; in 13O companies
between 90 and 100 per cent; in SO
companies between so and 30 per cent /;
in %. companies between 20 and 80
per cent; in 20 companies between 60
and 70 per cent. Unfortunately quite
a number Of men habitually drink to
excess, and as this number will prob
ably increase II the men are obliged,
as now, to resort to native liquors in
order to satisfy what to many Of them
is a perfectly natural craving, the re-
suit will he most deplorable."
General Sanger concludes with the
remark that ''it is hardly probable, in
view of this information. that Con-
gress will continue the prohibition
against the canteen, when it is evil
dent that the sale of beer would he
a precaution against the pernicious
habits above stated, and their fatal
and disastrous results"