Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-24
NOT ALL OF ONE MIND
SHOOTS PROJECTED
LEGISLATION ON CANTEEN.
Members Of W. C. T. q. Discuss Meas
ure From Different Standpoints-
Not Treated Seriously.

The officers of the W. c. T. L. are Inc
clned not to pay much attention to the ans
nouncement that Senator Reed Smoot OF
Utah intends to introduce bill III the next
session of Congress providing for the REIN
stallaton of the canteen at army posts.
Mrs. Clinton Smith. president of the local
w. c. T. u, said this morning To a Star
reporter that she was not much concerned
with all the talk Of the army cantecn. She
said she is perfectly satisfied with the cam
teen question as it stands now. and she de-
clared there is little occasion for the w. g.
T. U. to bother with proposed changes in
legislation. Mrs. Smith added that she IS
| satisfied with the present state of things,
and believes in letting we'll enough alone
Mrs. Emma Sanford Shelton. recording
secretary of the w. c. T. L., on the other
hand, believes this to be the opportune limo
for the white ribboners to prepare to fight
any step which may be taken in the future
toward the changing of the present canteen
laws. She stated that Senator Smoot. ac-
cording to the interview he gave ont some
days ago, In undertaking to introduce an
other bill at the next Congress on the cam
teen, and that he has thus espoused an un-
worthy cause.
Mrs. Shelton declared that the W. c. r u.
never had any grievance against Senator
Smoot personally. as II always believed him
10 De gentleman, the antagoniSm only
for what he represented, namely. Mormon-
ism. Yet she is inclined to believe that tho
senator's proposed action the canteen
question has been taken principally TO hurt
the white ribboners in return for their at
tack on his principles.
Mormonism as an Issue.
"As far Mormonism is concerned"
Mrs Shelton said, 1.-The investigation
| brought out some most interesting and as
tOniShinF ioio
tate before sanctioning the nomination Of
another such candidate. But the canteen
problem Is one of greater and more general
interest, because IL affects the whole nation
at almost every town. 1t is. of course. not
especially nice for use to get together once
more to hight any proposed change in can.
teen egislation, especially now. because We
were beginning to have success
Mrs. Shelton stated that she regards as a
mistake the declaration of the War Depart
ment that the army officers oppose tho
present canteen laws. The w. c. T L., she
| states, Is in touch with officers at almost
every army post in the country who believe
In the evils of the canteen.
The position the w. c. T. Y. takes is that
young soldier is less inclined to drink II
he has no liquor convenient and temptingIy
near. She said she did mott believe in the
oft-repeated assertion that many soldiers
desert SO az better to be able to procure
drink.
IF it were So" she added. II think it Is
better Tor the army to permit a drinking
soldier to desert"
Mrs. Shelton said In conclusion that the
W. c. T. y. will fight the canteen legisla-
ton to the bitter end II 1t is brought up at
the next session of Congress. The bill which
resulted in the abolition of the canteen was
passed four years ago.
Mrs. La Fetra, for eight years president
OF the local w. c. T. L., said to a Star
porter this morning that she had no faith in
the success of any bill Senator Reed Smoot
might introduce at the next session, declar-
N q h Of he ar1 fl,
so much opposed by everybody who be-
lieves in Christianity-to be taken seriously,