Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-21
ARMY CANTEEN
 IS FAVORED Member of the American Medical AssoclaGloh Writes Letter to Secreta- ry Mitchell.
OUGHT TO REPEAL
The Law Against st-imeriean so'-
 diers Would Be Benefited il They CouA Secure Wholesome Drink.

Washington. 3. C. Jan. 2t.-The board of trustees and other officials Of the American Medical association which has, on a number of occasions. adopted resolutions favofing the res toration Of the canteen to the Amer- ican army, have come forward in hearty fashion to assist in the efforts now being made by tho Spanish War Veterans, Cfvii War Veterans and others to have congress again fake ID this question.
 Among the n1nefou8 letters that have been received by Capt. J Waiter Mitchell. secretary of the national leg is1ative committee of the Spanish War Veterans. l5 the following from Dr. " W. Grant, of Denver, Col 8 member of the board of trustees Of the Amer ican Medical association:
 T have no hesitation h expressing approval of the effort to restore this -priviiege to the soldiers. When l vas surgeon general of Colorado, from 1899 to 1903, and member of the As- sociatfon of Military Surgeons of the United States, I supported resoin- lion in the convention at St. Panl with this object in view. My associatlon with the national gaurd and the mil- itary surgeons Of our army convinced me that 1t was bad policy to enact the law That it would be good policy and wise legislation to repeal 1t is my firm conviction. My knowledge of men and alcoholic liquors, and the customs of the people, conyinces me that it is just as nnwfse and futile to attempt to deprive the soldier Of the moderate use of liquors as 1t Is to deprive the civilian Of It. The mod crate use of mild alcoholic beverages on his own carnping-gronnd is not only harmless, but certainly conducive to morality, sobrety, discipline and orderly behavior, while it strengthens the spirit of personal liberty and manly bearing. Whatever does this makes him a better man, and more self-respecting soldier.
 There is another matter worthy of serious consideration in this connec- ton. All military men know how prevalent loathsone diseases are in the army, and how seriously they dis onalifv men for active duty believe no one will question the fact that when soldiers are compelled to go outside of the camp for liquors they drink more heavily, and it is at such times and under such conditions that they contract these diseases. The daily sick call tells the story.
 T know the essential importance of sobriety, and while have great re- spect for the motives of good temper ance women of the country, who in- duced the abolition of the eanteen, I can have but little faith in their judg- ment of man and of the measures nee essary to the best welfare of the sol dfer and the interest and discipline of tho amy"
 siuils@ s7.ters have also been re- ceived from .aany other physicians, and it Is the almost unanimous con elnsion Of these practitioners that the American soldier will be hundred times better off if he can secure beer in cleanly and healthy conditions within the army posts, than by goins outside 10 the low groggeries Shat sur round them The opinion is express ed that ntoxication under the can teen system, from the use Of so ligh a drink as beer, is practically impossi ble