Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-11
WOMEN ORGANIZING
ARMY CANTEEN CLUBS
Friends Of American Soldiers Start.
Ing Campaign to Have Law
Repealed.
TO have CLUBS IN ALL STATES
Noted Washington Singer, Mrs. lncz
Seymour Mcconnell, is President of
the Original order-one of the OF.
ficers Says There VIII be Mo Let
Up in the Movement.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 1O.-A
movement has been started in Wash.
! ington by Il number of ladies. friends
and relatives CT the American sol.
dicr5, having for it's principal object
the restoration Of the army cantcen.
To accomplish this end the ladies
have formed society to be know,
| as The Army Canteen Club" and
have taken steps to form similar clubs
| i'll all States. AS result of their
| extensive work army canteen clubs
T, are said to have been inaugurated in
Chicago, Cincinnati and at several
places in New York State. 1t is pro-
| posed to continue adding links to the
chain,' as member expressed it,
until we cover America from Maine
to California and Southwark to Flor
ida"
1t is the belief of the members of
the local club that the restoration of
the army canteen will he In the in
terest OF genuine practical temperance
and against what they designate as
the mistaken theory OF temperance"
They have quoted from the unani-
nous endorsement Of the American
Medical society of the movement for
the restoration CT the canteen to the
military and soldiers homes.
At a recent meeting of the local
army canteen club, held at No. 10
Thirteenth street, Northeast, Mrs
lnez Seymour Mcconnell. noted
Washington singer. was elected pres.
ident. The other officers chosen at
the same time we're Miss Charlotte
Mtlhpr1p ,,in /,
Winchester secretary: Miss Lizzie
Mulhofer. treasurer: Mrs. +. G.. Nit
chell, financial secretary: Miss Mar
clssa Hayes. sergeant-at-arms. and
MIR. Lee NJ. Davidson, of Chicago, or
ganizer and sponsor.
An Officers Statement.
1--WE expect to be seconded in our
efforts for the return Of the army
canteen nest heartily by the wives.
mothers, sisters and daughters of
soldiers, as well as by all American
women who agree with us that the
enactment of the anti.canteen law
was ill-advised and has resulted in
a large increase Of habitual drunkards
In the army, as is shown by the re-
cent report OF Surgeon-General O'Reil-
", United States army" said one of
the officers. OF the club. "We
also agree with General Corbin
who is great temperance
man, that since the abolitian of
the canteen there has been an In
crease in immortality, drunkenness,
lack of military discipline. desertions
and general dissatisfaction in the
army.
"We also believe that at heart a
large majority of the Senators and Re-
representatives. in Congress agree with
practically the unanimous American
army that grave mistake was made
when the canteen was abolished. We
are believers in real, not theoretical,
temperance and fanaticism. 1t is al
so our opinion that those who are
now petitioning Congress by the
thousands for the restoration of the
post exchanges, or canteens know
exactly what is best for the army of
which they have been members, while
many of those who petitioned for it's
abolition did not know what was
meant by 'canteen.'"
Responsibility for Brownsville ARRAY.
This officer of the club also gave
IT as her opinion that the absence of
the canteen at the military post near
Brownsville. Tex. resulted in all the
trouble there. and caused the colofed
soldiers to shoot no the town. 1t was
also her belief that had there been
a most exchange there the soldiers
would have been satisfied and would
not have gone to Brownsville, where
they are said to have been required
to patroni2e ".Iim Crow har-rooms;
where vile decoctions. known as
fighting firewater" were sold to
them.
The ladies composing the Washing
ton Army Canteen club have Uncle
Sans fighting men as ga badge and
emblem and declare they have the
courage of their convictions and will
fight for the restoration of the can
teen until victory perches upon their
banner.
Let us have Your order for the nol-