Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-06
ARMY MANS VIEW
OF THE CANTEEH
rs ABLE TO TALK INTELLIGENT.
LY FROM LONG Ex-
PERIENcE.
MERELY A FEEDER FOR OUTSIDE
SALOONS, He DECLARES
SERIOUSLY.

United States army. retired, who lives
in Washington, %. c., discusses a re
cent article in Golfers Weekly by
Major Charles McH. Saltnan, sigma
corps of the army. This article is 81
far from the truth in most particular
that it seemed impossible that it could
have been written by an army officer
1t sounded like the production OF a
novice.
The official army register shows
that the major entered the service
June ~, 1896. If he took advantage OF
his graduating leave, he probably did
not join his regiment before Septem-
Der II. Assuming that he did, he had
only about nineteen months experience
with the eanteen before the breaking
out of the Spanish-American war; and
all this as a new second lieutenant
This inexperience. therefore. may part
ly account for the crudeness of his
production.
l. The article leads all civilians to
believe that the post exchange was
destroyed when the canteen was abol-
ished. This is not so. The post ex-
change exists today 1t has reading
and amusement rooms, library, gym
nasium, lunch counter, ami general
merchandise storeroom. Congress mas
appropriated about 100000 for build
ings ana their equipment for rhis In
7titution. 1t is the soldiers club. j.
has nearly everything necessary for
such an institution, but has not the
admitted evil of beer. Let any one
read the majors article with care. and
see if he can find the slightest indica-
tion that this soldiers club exists.
Leading the public to believe that the
post exchange was abolished with the
'canteen, is almo t a universal prac,
tice with the civilians who write or
speak in favor of the resolution of the
canteen. Let me repeat. the post ex-
change, the soldiers club, with all it's
appointments, exists today.
2 Major Saltzman says there was
mo drunkenness or disorder where the
canteen was" But General Daggett
says: MY experience during the
whole existence of the canteen was di'
rectiy to the contrary. In 1886 was in
command of company composed, for
the most part, of temperate men, few
of whom were total abstainers. We had
been stationed at Fort Spokane, then
Washington territory, for several
years. There was no canteen at that
post. An amusement room had been
established without beer and II had
been success sful. Although a vile den
was nearby, there was but little drunk
ennesS or disorder. The hard drinkers
visi' ed the den, but the majority did
not 90 near it. That year we moved to
Fort Omaha, Nebraska, where there
were many saloons. The sale of beer
was introduced into the canteen for
the avowed purpose of keeping the
men away from the saloons. The re-
suit was that men got more or less
ander the influence of beer at the can
teen, and then went to the saloons for
something presumably strcnger. In
total abstainers and all. had ac-
-quired the drink habit can recall
only one exception There were
drunkenness, disorder, and court
martials. The canteen became the
feeder of the saloons. 1t was the same
in different degrees wherever
served, whether in Arizona, Oklahoma
Colorado. Montana or elsewhere"
3. The major says that "grog shops
and dives throughout the land began
10 disappear" But, says Genera
Daggett, They did not at Fort Oma
ma, nor any other post where served
At Fort Omaha, saloons remained a:
long as troops remained, to accommo
date the hard drinkers made by the
canteen. When the post was aban
doned, with the canteen, the saloon.
closed. II has been reported by civilian
officials that there were more saloon,
near Fort Myer. Va, and Washington
barracks during the existence of tn,
canteen than before its establishment
Conditions vary in different localities
so there may have been places wher,
this was reversed I have been reliabl,
informed of one post where this wa.
the case"
4. The major says men stayed II
the gymnasiums and reading rooms
etc, where there was d canteen. T,
this General Daggett replies. Their
may have been gymnasiums at som
posts at that time. but never say
one. Reading rooms, If any. were ger
orally unpleasant rooms and poorl
furnished. and but little patronizet
The beer room was the main thins
NOW, the post exchange. the soldier,
club. has delightful reading an
amusement rooms and gymnasium.
well furnished What a contrast b,
tween the present quiet. orderly. re-
pectable post exchange and the oil,
ali orderly, sour-smeli ing, and som,
times almost riotous canteep
3. The major says the majority Al
abstainers. If his observations ar
correct. add General Daggett, "this
a double reason why there should b
no canteen. Would he subject this n
Ority to the constant temptations
the canteen. the inside saloon? Wit
the United States government back
it and an army officer in charge. no
many men v Guid have the moral con