The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-25
ABOLITION OF CANTEEN
OFFICERS SAY ITS EFFECT Is
DAMAGING TO ARMY.
Posts Report That Drunkenness Has
Increased and It Is Said That
Congress Will Remove
the Prohibition.

washington, Nov. A.-The War De-
partment is in constant receipt Of re-
quests for data concerning the canteen
question and the effect of its abolition on
the army. Apropos of this a statement
Is made at the 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 had been made to
influence public opinion on the matter.
1t Is said at the Department that recon-
mendations of the Adjutant General in
his annual report were based on the in
formation in these reports. 1t Is pointed
out that the existence of something like
1, 400 saloons in the vicinity of the army
posts is shown by the reports received
at the Department, $50 to 800 of which are
said to have been opened since the clos
ing of the canteen. This furthes state
ment is made at the Department:
The majority Of posts have reported
that drunkenness and courts martial for
drunkenness have increased; that deser-
ton and absence without leave has, in
creased; that the effect OF the closing of
the cantcen upon the morality, discipline
and health of the troops has been bad and
while many post commanders are. In con-
sequence of frequent changes of garrison
and from the absence of correct data upon
which to base comparisons. unable to re-
port as 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 post commander ex-
pressed an opinion that the effect of the
abolition of the sale of beer in the army
has resulted in improved conditions"
Attention Is called to the reports from
army officers in the Philippines, and 1t is
said at the Department that while the re-
ports on the subject are too voluminous
to be given to the press, they are on file
and are at the call of Congress If they
should be desired.
With reference to the reports from the
Philippines, a statement has been made
public at the War Department epitomiz-
ing the annual report of Brigadier Cen
eral Sanger. Inspector General of the
division, of the native liquors the state
ment continues:
ITO remedy these conditions. tho post
exchange. at which light beer was sold,
was exercising a wholesome influence and
General Sanger believes that the exchange
should be again made a possibility by
removing all restrictions 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. General Sanger
showed from a careful census Of the 342
companies of enlisted men in the Philip
pine Islands. that in sixty companies
every enlisted man used vinous. malt or
spurious liquors at date of enlistment; in
1870 companies, between 80 and 100 per cent.
in IS companies between so and 80 per
cent; in &c companies between 20 and so
per cent; in 20 companies between go and
70 per cent Unfortunately quite a num-
Der Of men habitually drink to excess and
as this number will probably 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 result will be most deplora-
BILE.
General Sanger concludes with the re-
mark that 1t is hardly probable in view
of this information that Congress will
continue the prohibition against the cam
teen when 1t is evident that the sale of
beer would be a precaution against the
pernicious habits above stated and their
fatal and disastrous results"