The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-11-16
FOR THE ARMY CANTEEN
Whisky Drinking Has Increased
Since Its Abolition
DRINK SOLD TOOFFlCERS
General Wade Says Under the Cam
teen System More Men Remained
i'm Post, Better Dressed, Had More
Money and Self-Rcspcct-liecruits
Less Liable TO Drink.

Money and Self-Rcspcct--Recruits
Less Liable TO Drink.
With hardly an exception, the
commanding officers in the United
States army, those who have at
tanned the general rank, are in favor
of the re-establishment of the can
teen system. Perhaps there is none
more pronounced in his views on the
subject than Major General James f.
Wade, recently commander of the
Department of the East
IL feel quite justified in saying"
said General Wade in conversation
with a New York Herald reporter,
that while not all the officers in the
army are in favor of the re-establish-
ing on the canteen, those who are in
favor of 1t compose a very large ma
jority. They have seen the practical
results both ways, and those who
have any direct association with the
troops, such as regimental or COM
pany commanders, are almost unani-
nous in wanting the canteen back
again.
80 earnest am | in my belief in
its influence for good that in my last
official report to the War Department
| made special mention of the mat
ter.
ANY one who is at all familiar
with conditions at an army post
knows that there are always just
outside the lines of the reservation a
number of low class saloons. The
proprietors of these use every means
in their power to attract the trade of
the soldiers. They maintain So
called concert halls, and in many
cases not only countenance but main
tain a number of women of the low
est type to hang around and lure the
men into spending their money. This
is the feature that we most deplore.
I'm a great many posts 1t is only
a question of crossing the street
when the soldier is outside of the
reservation, and he can find plenty
OF places in which to get a drink.
The proprietors of these dives or sa-
looms are only too willing to give the
soldier credit. He can always run an
account with them far beyond any
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suming. Then when pay day comes
once a month or once in two months,
as the case may be, the soldier, who
is generally a man of strict honor in
money matters, goes to settle up.
The result is that after he has paid
his debts he celebrates the event by
taking number of drinks and
spending what little money he has
left.
This does not worry him very
much because he knows he can start
fresh account the next day, but
nevertheless it is very regrettable
condition of affairs. The saloon
keeper, you see, practically gets all
the money. The soldier does all the
work and takes the punishment"
How long was the canteen sys-
TEN in vogue in the army?"
81 do not remember exactly, but
think about ten years, and we all
heartily wish it was back again"
Under the canteen system man
was not allowed to get drunk, but
he was allowed to drink enough beer
to satisfy any craving he might have
for intoxicants.
"A soldier is a very human being.
The enlisted man Is just like all the
rest of mankind. You tell him that
he cannot have a certain thing and
naturally that is the very thing that
he longs for. This is particularly
true as far as drinking is concerned.
The establishment of the canteen, in
my opinion, took away the tempta-
tion from the men in a very large
measure. No whisky was sold in the
cantcens-only beer and light wines
and they were bought and sold un-
der the supervision of the govern
ment by officers in the army, sta
toned at the post. They were sure
to be of good quality and as harmless
as intoxicants of that nature can be.
"A non-commissioned officer was
always on duty at the canteen to see
that the men did not drink too much.
When he found a soldier becoming
slightly intoxicated he would refuse
to let him have any more and If ne
cessary send him back to the bar
racks. OF course the men drank
nothing but beer. The light wines
were rarely If ever called for. They
do not appeal to the American SOL
der.
1T is a mistaken impression to
speak about the abolition of the can
teen. The canteen as an institution
still exists, and at it the men may
get all kinds of notwithstanding
drinks and certain other refresh
ments in the way of food. They can
also use it as a sort of club room in
which to play cards or amuse them
selves in any other kind of orderly
way. The only difference now Is that
no beer is sold at the canteen. The
law which did away with that was to
the effect that no intoxicants
should be sold or given away in any
army reservation, post or any build
ing belonging to the government de-
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