Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02

EcdtjclI Proctor to u. &. Smith Of Shell
burnc regarding his attitude on the bill
.iuw before Congress regarding the al
lowing of cnntccns to lie cs .atlshcd at |
army posts in states where the sale Of
IntoNicating liquor is ltaalizcd. clearly |
scts forth his position on this mootod
question and will give much instruction.
The letter follows:
United States Senate,
Washington, ID. c.
Dear Mr. Smith:
I have not been unmindful of your |
letter regarding the army cantccn, nor of
other similar letters which | have re- |
ccvcd iron, good temperance people i'll
Vermont. with whose views ] am Ecncr- |
nliv in accord. ] should have written y"u
before ir had not boon so occupied with
some measures pending before the Sem |
ate which must he disposed of before |
the end of the session. introduced the
canteen bill in tho regular course of busi-
loss as acting chairman of tho commits |
tee on military affairs. at the request of
many Of the officers OF the army and
officials nf the war department. There
will be no opportunity and has been no
uurnosc for the committee to act upon
it at this session, and much less for Con-
gross to do SO. / am not its special
snonsnr in any sense: but ] do believe
that those who are immediately rcspon-
eihle for the wcll-bcinG of our soldiers
IN tho regular army arc entitled TO nave
their views presented for the considcra-
lion OF Congress, and. relying upon the
testimony Of those who touch the SOL
iicrS most closely and ought to know
hest. am generally in sympathy with
.hcir views in this regard.
WHAT is PROPOSED.
4 word Of explanation will perhaps SIM
plify matters as to what the bill referred
to really proposes. Until 1901 there was
no law on the subject. but the army reg
ulations until then in force authorized
The commanding officer of the post to per-
init beer and light wines to he sold by
thc drink on week days in a room called
he "cantccn.' used for no other purpose.
when he was satisfied chat the giving
The mon the opportunity OF obtaining such
beverages within the post limits has TIL"
affect of preventing them from rcsortiS
FOR strong intoNicants TO places without
uch limits. and tends tn promote tenn
perince and discipline among them" The
matter was left to the peculiar cond-
ions of individual posts. and tho prcsi-
lent. or secretary Of war in his name.
changed the regulations or have prohibit
I'd such sale entirely. The cantccn fca-
.urc of the post cXcha nge WAS abolished
by the law of February .. 1901. Tho pend
ing law proposes to repeal so much Of
that act "as prohibits the sale of beer
IN amy post exchange or cantccn at posts
located in states where such sale is not
prohibited by tho law of the State"
The clntcen is cooperative stor" FOR
III" enlisted mon. Nearly everything
found in Il country store can be bought
there. Tho management is under a cont
n,ission'd officer. and the item Of personal
gain is eliminated. The companies fund;
furnish the goods. the building alon" he
ing furnished by the government. What
eyer profit there may be is divided among
tho companies for the purchase of extras
and luxuries not provided by the govern
mcnt. In tho same building are reading
and writing rooms, game rooms. etc.
In these rooms one may get hot coffee
and soft drinks. but beer was never per-
nttod IN tn" amusement rooms. When
it was permitted TO be sold it was in
another room apart from them and served
not Ivy soldiers. but by hired civilians,
ara gambling of no kind was permitted.
ALWAYS VOTED FOR PROHIBITION.
' on anu ] u"llc\c III All Wise measures
for the prohibition of the liquor traffic.
have more than half a century, and
you for nearly that time, voted for pro-
hioition with the same consistency that
We have voted the republican ticket. We
have STOOD in our respective commune
ties for It's faithful enforcement. But
no not look upon the cantcen question rs
Que of prohibition or license. but the,
OF how the bancful effects of saloons H.
ccnsed by State law around "a post can
he minimized. You will observe that tht
proposed act continues to forbid the sale
OF beer in cantecns in any state where
such sale is prohibited by law. 1T simpl!
proposes to give tho war department au
thoriiy in license States only to permit
the sale Of beer under restrictive cond
tons whenever. in the language of Tho
army regulations they are satisfied tina
t will have tho effect OF preventing tn,
mon from resortinG for stronger intoxi
cants to places without the limits of th'
post. In short, the practical situation
is this: IT, States whore the sale of li,iuo
Is authorized under the State law. saloons
and low dives of all sorts arc pcrmttc,
IN the immediate vicinity of army posts
An army post is not like n ship. To which
sailors can he. and in fact are. confinci
10 he permitted in time of peace to z
quite freely outside the limits of the post
~ the state law authorizes and permit
tho existence Just outside the post O
saloons and resorts in which are fostcrc
not only intcmp6rance. but debauchcry
crime. diseases, and other ills conncctc
with low dives the practical question !
how in the midst of such vicious cond
tions the most can be done to save tn
mon from them.
How to reduce the evils OF intcnIporanc
and how t. lessen the baneful effects G
the liquor traffic in any place or undo
any conditions always opens up an uncnd
ing field of discussion and produces yer
divergent, though equally honest, opr
tons among friends of temperance.
would bc futile for me tn attempt to cnto
into such II discussion in this connection
From a temperance standpoint. there al
two sides to this canteen question. IT
true of many questions. and particular
go of this. that it has both n scntiments
and practical side. / recognize the fu
force Of its sentimental side. and appre
ciate that 1t is repugnant to the temper
alice sentiment of many good people
have beer sold under any conditions will
IN u government reservation; hut OF
should not lose sight of the other
t1a1 cid - In tt>,.