Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
The Soldier and the Canteen.
.ditor Of The Evening Star

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Having been for some time an interested
although silent spectator Of the wordy COM
bat between our fair sisters Of the w. c.
T. U. and their opponents concerning the
army "canteen." I have finally become SC
imbued with the lust Of blood that car
no longer remain mere witness OF the
fray, but must jump over the railing into
the arena.
You may remember the story Of the two
chickens who were quarreling over the poor
no SAY" in the matter 1t seems to me
that the soldier-the enlisted man-is In
much the position Of the worm. Far be 1t
from me to insnuate. of course. that the
compared to the chckens-or hens.
would not have this thought for the world.
However, the worm will turn. and as a
soldier 1 take the liberty. Of turning to
your valuable paper as q means Of express
ing my humble opinion on the subject.
According to the old saw, you can lead
horse to water, but you can't make him
drink" This is very interesting as far as
as to what particular variety of beverage
that noble and intelligent quadruped might
be persuaded to favor. In some respects
the soldier is nearly as intelligent as the
away his canteen, but you can't make him
stay sober-by cOmpulsion.
I have read many articles on the subject,
but have not been able to discover as yet
the purpose of the pious and (doubtless)
honorable Mr.. Crafts and the ladies in re-
moving the canteen.
OF course, the reason cannot be that they
wish to decrease the evil of drunkenness in
the army, as any one can easily understand
that If soldier drinks bad whisky away
from his post, with absolutely no restraint
he will work Himself more harm than If
he drinks beer within the limits of his post,
under the regulations of officers and the
direct supervision of the non-commissioned
officer in charge of tine "canteen," who has
authority over him and can order him to
his quarters if he becomes obnoxious.
If there We're no saloons within fifty
miles of a post then the abolition of the
"canteen'' might restrict drunkenness to a
certain extent, or if the soldier were a
cripple, unable to leave his quarters, the
absence of Intoxicating liquors on the post
might reduce the intemperance somewhat.
Unfortunately, however, the soldier is
generally pretty fair specimen physically
and In consequence he is able to leave the
reservation after his days work is done
and permeate the low groggeries which a
kind municipal government allows to clus-
ter lovingly around the entrance and in
dulge to his hearts content and the great
detriment of his morals and the mess table
for the inhuman proprietors of the above
mentioned low groggerieS pocket the Or Gifts
which would otherwise go 10 the improve
ment of the mess.
Perish the thought that the barkeepers
associations are going halves with the
busy bodies who have SC effectUally added
one more burden to the load of the long
suffering soldier. 1t may not be a clear
case of connivance, but many a man has
been hanged. and hanged justly and de-
servedly, on less conclusive evidence.
could say more, but forbear.
PERCY H. SKINNER
Corp. Co. X, Sd Bat, L. S. Engineers.
Washington Barracks.