Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-06
THE ARMY CANTEEN.
Army 0ficers of important Position
 Opposed to Its Abolishment.

Washington, D. O., Sept 8.--If poli- tical considerations do not intervene, 1t Is likely that strenuous effort will be made, in the near future, perhaps at the approaching session of con- gress, to repeal the anti-canteen pro- vision enacted by congress three or four years ago. Practically every army officer in an important position of command Is opposed to the anti canteen law. Evidence from every source seems to indicate that the ac- tion of congress In abolishing the can teen was mistake.
 In the report of almost every gen. eral officer of the army may be found a recommendation for the re-estab- lishment of the post canteen. Briga- dier General Wilson, commanding the department of the Colorado, is the latest officer to file such a recom- mendation. General Frederick D. Grant, who commanded the forces at the Mt Gretna Pa) encampment, speaks in his report fin high terms of the conduct of the troops, but adds that If canteens had been in opera tion in the camp, the report on the personal conduct of the troops would have been much better. He declares in his report that the death of two soldiers from the effect of drinking wood alcohol would not have occurred if canteens had been permitted with in the confines of the encampment
 Practically every army officer who is called upon to submit report on the subject presents the same state of facts Just without the limits of the post reservation or encampment the lowest sort of 'doggeries" and "gin- mills" are established. They are ab- solutely beyond the control of the of fcers of the post or camp. The men who obtain leave from the camp al- most invariably visit these places. There they drink the vilest kind of liquor and often are drugged and rob bed.
 It is pointed out in official reports that, if the canteen directly under the supervision of the commandant of the camp or post is in operation, the men are not placed under the temptation of visiting the low resorts; Then, too, their drinking, at the canteen. Is confined to beer and soft drinks, which are furnished to them at just about the cost price. A soldier can not get drunk in a post or camp can teen, because. under the regulations, the director of the canteen must re- fuse to furnish drinks of any kind to a man who shows any signs of what he already has imbibed.
 In nearly every report filed with the war department by post, and camp. and department, commanders since the anti-canteen law became effective, the abolition of the canteen is de plOred as a detriment to the service and as a serious menace to the mor- al of the troops. The official judg- ment of these officers cannot be pass ed lightly. Their first desire, as mili- tary commanders of course is that their men should be at all times in the best possible health and disci- pline. It is only fair, as has been in- dicated by reports to congress by the secretary of war, to assume mat the commanding officers are likely to ad- yocate such methods as will conduce, in their judgment, to the elevation of their men to the highest possible phy- sical and mental standard. The of- ficers who make these reports to the war department are the men who come into direct contact with the posi- tive results of the abolition of the post canteen. They are familiar with the action of the law, and that they prac- tically unanimously discredit 1t fs significant and important.
 Whether the congress will repeal the law is problematical. If 1t were to vote its honest convictions. the law would be wiped on the statute books. practically without ar gument; but the members of both the senate and the house of representa- lives are so sensitive to the "senti- ment" of the people that they may hesitate to do that which many strong men, in and out of the army, of real temperance Ideas, believe ought to be done.