Rock Island Argus., 1911-04-19

enlisted men along the same lines
| that the officers club is conducted
today. Only beer and soft drinks
were handled the stronger alcoholic
beverages, such as whisky, were
prohibited in the canteen.
The canteen was the general gath
ering place of the post. Cards,
checkers and dominoes were gener-
ally supplied. During the afternoon
ande evenings the men off duty gath
cred in these canteens, played
games, tchatted and met their friends.
( In this way the duh routine of mil
/ itary life was made less burdon4
some. Those who cared to read
|, could look through the magazines,
which were furnished also. Those
who wished to spend an hour or so
IL the gymnasium, which was located
ini the same building, were privileged
to- do that. Often there was a piano
in Nthe same building. and, with the
assiistance of musical talent, of which
there is considerable among the reg
ularsa harmless fun was furnished
for am entire gathering. The glass
or so OF beer which the soldiers
II was, more as a social club, as q
medium for social intercourse rather
than a '"saloon" that the regulars
yaIued the canteen-
A commissioned ,officer was placed
in charge of every canteen Under
him was a non-coTnmissioned officer
/ Ca sergeant or n corporal), who had
Immediate charge and attended to
the clerical work Of the institution
The profits made from the canteen
were divided among the various
troops and companies. and used TO
swell the company funds. Every
month statement, was made to the
commanding officer OF each outfit"
Many q fancy Sunday dinner was fur
nished the soldiers as q result Of
/ these monthly dividends, which were
used to purchase foods not issued by
the quartermaster's department in
/ the regular ratious. Every week
canteen checks We're issued by the
top" sergeant. These checks could
be redeemed at the canteen for card
board or brass chips designating
purchases from one 20 fifty cents.
Today the canteen IS no more. The
[ enlisted man no longer has his social
club. Congress. by giving in TO the
whim of temperance organizations
unaquainted with inside conditions
: in the army, practically compelled
! the soldiers who drank, and many
who didn't, 10 run 20 saloons and
dives outside the posts. At the same
time il abolished the enlisted mems
social club. Now, instead Of drink
/ ing beer. which underwent close in
spection when the canteen existed,
the soldiers drink "rotgut" and var
nish.'
When the canteen existed a large
percentage of the regulars seldom
/ left the army posts. They found
companionship and social intercourse
among their comrades in the can
teen Today most of the soldiers
spend time in and around the dives
and dens in the vicinity Of the army
posts and beyond military inspectors.
AS a rule, the soldiers who were
subject TO excessive drinking could
be taken care of when the canteen
existed. The officers in charge had
them spotted and watched that they
did not drink TOO much, which was
seldom when tie drinking was con
fined 10 beer. Then the canteen was
located a few yards away from the
barracks, and the intoxicated ones
could be sent TO their bunks-or
placed IN the guardhouse until they
sobered UP. The canteen officers ex--
ercised ne same authority a. a po-
lice ofhcer IN civil life, Besides.
when the habitual drunksrds could
draw checks for beeE during ths
month. they generally sPsnG all tEeir
money fl the eaatsea before payday