Arizona republican., 1910-01-12
Logic of a Crusade.

one of the returning ships from the Philippines landed in San Francisco the ether day some two dozen insane soldiers-made insane by drinking the villainous intoxicants furnished by dealers whose places of operation are outside the army posts. This incl dent is pointed out by all army off cers as another strong argument for all argument in favor of the canteen seems unavailing in the face of the foolish sentimentalism of certain tenn perance organizations which have suc- ceeded so far in keeping congress 'buffaloed."
 When canteens were in operation at army posts, the soldiers were able to buy beer in moderate. quantities, and there was rarely any intoxication. The canteens offered other attractions be- sides beer. There were billiard tables and other means of amusement. and soldiers off duty were glad to put in their time at the canteens instead of going to nearby places for recreation. But the enthusiasts looked the situa- tion over, and were mortified Why, Uncle Sam was in the liquor busi- ness; it would never do, It must be stopped. and stopped at once, So. a raid was made on congress for law abolishing the canteen In vain it was pointed out by army officers that the abolition of the canteen would not help the cause of temperance. but would, on the contrary. play directly into the hands of dive keepers It was explained that the enlisted man is given to mans appetites and weak nesses; that he has a large amount of idle time on his hands, and that he will not use the time wisely if left to himself. It was explained that inn mediately following the disappearance of the canteen, which was the enlisted mans club and lounging place. he would leave the post reservation for amusement elsewhere; that dive keep CTS would establish deadfalls as close to the posts as possible. and would take care to fleece the soldier of his money and supply him with the meanest of "rot-gut" liquor. In short, it was carefully explained, to do away with the canteen would be to give great boost to the most infamous forms of the liquor traffic.
 We don't care" replied the lady apostles of this strange temperance movement; its not right for the gov ernment to engage in the liquor busi- ness; it's a disgrace to the country. If you don't vote for our bill we'll beat you for reelection" And against their own judgment, but in cowardly fear of illogical temperance advocates at home. the congressman voted away the canteen.
 Ever since that foolish proceeding the officers of the army have been pleading with congress to restore the canteen. They have furnished great mass of incontrovertible evidence in proof of their assertion that the aboI- ishment of the canteen has had the effect of subsidizing the worst dog geries imaginable, and that morally and physically the enlisted man is the sufferer from this strangely sense- less crusade against the canteen
 But the average congressman is a cowardly politician, and we have to guess that the canteen is gone to stay. What difference does it make if the soldier is ruined in body and soul? A great principle has been vim dicated-we can decline to see the deadfalls that cluster around the army posts. and point with pride to the fact that Uncle sam no longer sells beer.