New-York tribune., 1903-01-01
PRAISES THE C4NTEEN.
Major l.. l.. Seaman Gaues Reasons
for Restoring 1t.

Mater Louis Livingston Seaman has an article
IN the January North American ReVie" on
why the Army Canteen Should Be Restored
He begins by saying that canteen is n'ishoiiiel
,,ndeserved by the army post exchange, anu
"as unfair it would be to call the oiNeiSi''
Club groggery dram-shop
He reviews the origin of the so called canteeh
telling low in the early days of the american
ARMY regular ration of stimulants-rum' prahoE'
or whiskey-was given. Later suffers were ap
no;nted h1, Inc Government. 1T is a matter oL
history that during the Civil War all KINGS oi
Intoxicating liquors were sold in the suffer can
teen he continues. Under the sutler SYSTEM
the sick list and death rate from alcohoi are m
creased to an alarming extent In 1866 post uao-
ing stations were established. This system ho"
ever proved little better than the sutier system,
he asserts In both cases the army was sau.y III
need of a reform. It the harvest day OF 1he
7i,-ekeener After years of these conditions came
experiments with the post exchange or the can
teen 1t did not come into full use unt1i 1851 me
canteen feature where only beer was SOLD was
in a separate room. AS soon as the post eH-
change was fully established. marked improve
rlent in the morals Of the army was noticed
A letter written by Mrs Morrow, whose husoano
established the first canteen, is quoted IL speahs
Of the canteen as "the result of an honest e1tort
to help the private soldier be his own many
SELF and yet to spend evening IN recreauoh'
The article continues:
Two years ago it was abolished, and to-day the
liquor sellers and the Wonan's Christian !eili-
- -
law it stands. During the decade OF 30
1887 the number of admissions to the military NOS
ptas for alcoholism and its results amounted 70
1G4o From 1888 to 1897. when the canteens iiou
been instituted throughout the army the huiiioel
was reduced 10 92s. Drunkenness was certainty
prevented.
Major Seaman speaks of the relation OF alcohoi-
ism TO insanity. and continues:
s g Tsan T. e Phpphes @ his s-
port just submitted to the ad1utant genera baye
eeo eon sent IN e6aPse eDms of the First Reser
on Mana and a reports that
ga per centwere insane from the eAoeSs''e use
In the canteen the soldiers commanding ofce6 IN 9n
is directed set Of to his paR ahat wc hi
month and if exceeds this AMOUNT inc ndssr 9s sas
bes been Gereict in the performance of duty
The canteen greatly con:ibnted to Of the tSer Con-
tenent e @ can be found in the of desertionsS
snGe it is t G0Sui bs lot fnai a 'he mot
from his military veraged rns per
IN is 1857 after caRteen hsa been running for
and contenten is less dreoly Though none nas2s sRs
Insi making Resayh Savings deposits with the army pay
mgsters. - +,s navmaster general for 1899
sbcMs TRe ffpfr fSa the eI humber annually
making such dep9s5b o fb for M Shs sese the an
nua nun nubeF mRis So fGe Gepoaiting increase
cidedly diminished by the restrictions of the can
teen. . .., l., ,aoo ma :
the most rational compromise that the ripe Xs eXs
nar;ence of the ablest officers of the army coulo
deviseNt was not abused in the camps 1t frnn5 mas
9fsqrace and disease worse than death. In a Dol
ishfng it. one might say that Congress IN -h:as.
ing a mouse resurrected a monster; ana When
Considering its restoration, as Congress must II
viii do well to remember that nne reS1 Gn the Oh con- M
frary it has decidedly promoted intemperance'
insanity fnsubordnation, discomfort, sulIennesS,
disease and desertion.