Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
INDORSE THE CANTEEN
ACTION BY MEMBERS OF AD-
VANCE TENT OF RECHABITEs.

The proposed restoration Of the army
"canteen" to military posts and camps was
Endorsed by the members Of Advance Tent.
No. 1909. Independent Order of Rechabites,
said to be the oldest temperance society
extant. at q meeting held at Rechabite
Temple, 9th and G streets, last Friday
evening. While the members are unequiv-
ocally opposed to liquor drinking in any
form. 1t was declared by the speakers that
the matter presented was one OF two evils.
On one hand are the low dives and blind
tigers" with their ''villainous compounds
and poisons designated as whisky, gin.
etc." which surround the posts and make
hopeless drunkards Of the soldiers in many
instances. besides causing them to commit
all manner Of excuses and violate military
laws and discipline: on the other side, the
speakers declared, are the post exchanges
or "canteens" in which the sale OF beers
and light wines are governed by strict
rules. and excuses are narrowed to mini
mum.
At the same meeting Mr.. Case Martin. a
member of the tent charged directly that
the government is particeps criminis In all
crimes committed by persons under the in
f1uence Of liquor. and said II the cases in
vOlvtng attractions OF law because of the
use OF intoxicants were taken before courts
of equity instead OF courts Of law they
would not be sustained because of such
participation on tQ0 part the ldW-Indh-
ing powers by licensing the sale Of liquors.
Uplifting Of Humanity.
The meeting was attended by a number
Of visiting members and there were sew
eral talks for the good Of the order" It
was. stated by Chief Ruler Fabian Column
bus and Past High Chief Ruler John c.
Moore that Rechabism, above all things.
stands for temperance and the uplifting Of
humanity.
1.-THE grand work of the order in its ef
forts to strengthen and support those who
have been the victims OF intemperance"
was attested by many present Each MEM
Der was urged to keep a constant lookout
for new members, and make the coming
winter the most successful in the history
Of the tent.
A committee of three. composed of
Messrs. Fabian Columbus. John c. Moore
and Case Martin, was appointed to confer
with members Of Harmony Tent Tuesday
next, and arrange for a joint watch-night
meeting Of the two tents New Year eve.
Merits Of Army Canteen.
A number Of those present having at
some period served either in the army or
navy, general discussion of the merits
Of the army canteen occurred, the canteen
being indorsed It has been clearly proven,
it was said, that "the law abolishing the
canteen has played directly into the hands
of the saloonkeeper most laws govern
ing the liquor traffic do"
Among the multitude of remedies that
have been proposed to correct the liquor
traffic and restrain the drink habit Mr..
Martin said. has it ever occurred to you
that the one first, great offender is our ma
tional government? To one who has lived
under prohibition, high license, low II
cense and local option laws. and seen them
all violated, there is only one remedy. The
remedy comes very nearly being contained
In one short sentence of three words, ut
tered by Christ in His sermon on the
mount. Resist not evil In other words.
abolish all liquor taxes-national. state and
municipal; and let any one who desires
manufacture and sell liquor.
breathe and the water we drink. Intoxi-
cants are not an evil In themselves
whisky is not an evil per Sc. It's the abuse
we make Of 1t which makes 1t an evil. 1t
is the methods and environments which the
government compels us to seek to procure
It which makes it an evil"