Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
Commandment of Soldiers Home is
Opposed to Its Establishment.
HORTON THINKS IT NOT A GOOD THING
Claims 1t Affords Temptation to Men,
bers WHO Drink Only Occasionally
Addresses Superintendent of
State Institutions on the Subject.

Des Moines, June 27.-In the confer
ence of the superintendent of state in
stitutions, held with the state board of
control, in this city Commandant G.
G. Horton, of the Soldiers Home in
Marshalltown, said that the establish
ment of the canteen, be it ever so we'll
and strictly managed is, at best, not a
desirable adjunct to the community
and locality where it exists. Howev-
er, he admitted that there is an honest
diversity of opinion on the question.
In the soldiers homes the most diff
cult 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 COM
mandant said:
THE establishment of the canteen
is claimed by some to be in the best
interests of the members of the
homes, and that its provision would
tend TO restrain members from over
Indulgence 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 regulat
ed as not to cause intoXication, that
this, method would keep them from
|frequenting the low doggeries to be
found in the cities where these homes
are located.
While | am decidedly opposed te
the canteen, believing that its intro
duction would be baneful to the best
interests and happiness of the mem
bers of che homes, give full credit
to those who honestly take the oppo
site view.
my personal objection is that
do not care to be held responsible fol
the proper management of the can
teen. We have few men who may
be habitual drunkards About Z tepe1
cent of the members of the homes are
likely to become intoxicated every
three or four months, especially about
pension time To this classsI believe
the lcanteen would be- a temptation
that they could not resist The few
drinks of beer that would be allowed
under the rules governing the best
regulated canteens would only serve
to create an appetite for stronger and
more drink and would very likely lead
to their leaving the grounds otherwise
than by the gate.
Il would not care to have one OIL
these appear before me charged with
intoxication and be told that hat
given him the first drink that started
the craving for Indulgence We have
many men who are striving to alb
stain from drink, men who refrain
from going to the city in order to keep
out of temptation. 1t is hardly right
to furnish the temptation at the
home.
Fifty per cent of the members take
an occasional glass of beer, perhaps
None of them favor the canteen. They
fear its establishment would lead tt
too frequent Indulgence. Those most
frequently up for intoxication are
most strongly against the establish
ment of the canteen."
Commandant Horton believes thai
fif all the men We're drunkards, the can
teen might well be established, pro
viding there was tight fence and
guards at the gate to keep them in
He suggested that one of the nationa
homes should be set aside for the
care of this class of the members o.
the homes. 1t would relieve all the
Others very materially The supplying
of the homes with libraries, gymnas
iums, ETC., now planned, will do mucl
to do away with the demand for the
lcanteen. The homes owe something
to the large per cent who never drink