Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-23
"CANIEEN" AN ISSUE
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST
ITS RESTORATION.

Word was received here today that at a
largely attended meeting of the Civic Bet
terment Association in Chicago Sunday
evening the action of Advance Tent of
Rechabites of this city in relation to the
army "canteen,' as given in The Sunday
Star, was unanimously Endorsed by that as
sociation. The statement was made that
while the members of Advance Tent did
not recede from their steadfast position
against the use OF strong drink, they did
oppose the enactment of law which mad
resulted in the military posts and camps in
this country being surrounded by low
dives, blind tigers, and similar resorts
where vile decoctions, variously termed
whisky, GIN etc, are dispensed to the SOL
diers, making of them habitual drunkards
and violators of the law and military disci-
pline. and that these places are being
operate under the law and its protection.
A Rechabite of long standing said today
that the members of Advance Tent, who
had followed the biblical injunction which
advises the choosing of the lesser OF two
evils. had taken another step in organiza-
tional progression which would mark the
order as one which follows along liberal
lines. He added:
THE first step in this direction was taken
when High Chief Ruler Wayne w. Cordell
made plain the purpose of the organiZa ton
to keep aloof from the prohibition PROPOSE
ton, advocated by the Anti-Saloon
League ana Otner similar associations, ana
to adhere to moral suasion the means of
saving mankind from the curse of strong
drink. The cry of fanaticism has too long
marked the course of temperance societies
and temperance individuals and movements,
and hampered their work of saving men
and women.
THE cry of fanaticism has too long made
the work of temperance unpopular. Such
action that taken by High Chief Cordell
against political prohibition and by those
members of Advance Tent who said the
army canteen was the lesser of two evils
has done more to broaden the work of
Recha and bring men of broad. lib
eral views into its tents than anything else
that has been done since the order was in
stituted. 1t is not q question of favoring
the drinking of intoxcants at either a
'canteen' or a low drinking resort where
liquid poisons are sold. but 1t is one of
minimizing the evil, and all but men Of
narrow vision thus regard it."
Mr. Williams View.
Mr. Charles Williams. who subscribes HIM
self "a Rechabite," writes to The Star that
1.-THE question of merit to the canteen
does not enter into the argument for the
Rechabite order a body or as an individ-
ual. for the pledge we assume is to abstain
from all intoxicating liquors and do all We
can TO put down the traffic Rechabtes
advocating the canteen are breaking the
obligation they assumed.
Il therefore contend. and l am not alone
in voicing the contention against such ac-
ton as members of Advance Tent took upon
this matter. 1t is contended by many Rech-
abites that solely moral suasion
order. and have no right to mix in politics
in trying to restrict the manufacture and
sale of intoxicants. but here a tent of the
order goes and advocates the sale. 1t is
wrong and they therefore stand open for
censure."
Question to Be Debated.
1t is understood that the question as to
whether the canteen should be restored is to
be debated a few evenings hence before the
membership of Eagle Tent, of which Mr..
Williams is a member On the affirmative
side. it is said. will be men who have served
In the army. and truly believe the restora-
ton of the canteen will be for the best in
terests of humanity, law, order and mill
tary discipline" and that, stripped of all
vestige of fanatcism, the question must be
decided in the affirmative"