The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-02-12
THE ARmv cANrsEN.

A courageous member Of congress from
Philadelphia has introduced bin 10 re-
store ths army canteen. and "a Is now be-
fore the house military committee. The
official report OF army officers and that
Of the secretary Of war discioses the ap-
paling effects that have followed the abb
clifton Of the canteen. Disease ana de-
generation appear amoag the enlisted
men az every post They resort 20 the
pitfalls thai spmng up When he cantecn
was abolished. ard drink poison stun
aiid are aemoralxed by tho debauchcry
thar follows. Dlscipiiae suffers. anu tho
whole service IS injured.
In tho canteen tho men had the use Of
beer and light wines, with such food re-
freshments as they needed to exc out
the army ration. But this was not an.
The canteen was the enlisted mans posi-
club. Its profits provided library and
reading room and the recreation OF
gnmes. Man Is social being lie
Graves the contact and company OF his
fellows. II these be within his reach
under circumstance that make the as
sociatiou innocent his craving is satis-
fed. and he is made better man.
whether De be u citizeh or a soldier
II his social Instincts cannot be gratified
in an innocent WAY, especially the sold
Ter viii seek that gr,iincmion under
conditions that drag him down Into vice.
Wise parents LEI their children play
while az home isnd r4sy with them. and
permit 10 them 'hther needed recrcations
innocent ia thenselves. At IS q safe
guard Of good hahits ana preventive
OF immoral and degrading contacts. Tina
same principle goes through life from
fchildhood through manhood Army or
iicers have their post club and find in Il
relief from the monoiony OF post life IN
time Of peace. The enlisted man has
the same social insfincts as his officer.
He has she same craving for rcliof from
the monotony Of post routine. IL he
cannot get such relief innocenfly he will
have Il viciousiy.
What would the enemies OF the cam
teen have the soldier dog In his bar
racks there are no nseans Of amusement
no chance cyeu TO lnstruct his mind
There Is no post school Ia which he can
strengthen the weak piaees In his educa- =
tion He must be an exceptional man
II nc does not rcci1icssly seek break In
the monotony by ecans that finally des-
troy him morally and physically. He
will not occupy his mind reading tracts
upon the dangers OF alcohol and tobacco
nor will he satisfy himself In the per-
usal of plous tracts. Many think. how
over. that he should find xueh occupa-
tion sufficient TO satisfy his social hum
ger. and II was believed by the good and
well-meaning people who carried on the
anti-cantcen crusade that they would be
able to turn tie army into great and
pious camp where tracts and hymns
would fiii in the giddy round OF rcerea-
ton.
They were wrong The medical sta
tisics and reports Of the officers show
how wrong they were We do not ex-
pect that any Of she Drcponderance OF
testimony win convince them They
VIII go up Ike AN army with banners
against the bin 10 restore the canteea.
TbeT Miu be supported by the Vicious
element that profits out of the sale Of
bad whisky "a the 8readftlls that fringe
every army post. GINNING vice aud sim
pie minded virtue win 20 hand IN haad
TO beat the Phlladelphian bin. vice
win know just what # is doing ana vir-
tue will be deaf nod blind to the sure
consequences.
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