New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-09
THE ARMY CANTEEN
II Is Sadly Missed by Uncle
Sans Fighting Men.
THEY WANT II RESTORED
But Congressman Are Timid and
Will Not Heed Advice, Says
Military Writer.

circles again and again TO the absolute
necessity for the restoration Of the canteen
in army posts. but still the legislative
branch Of the government seems afraid to
reopen the question and do the proper
thing. IL would appear from our observa-
ton that the members Of Congress, with
few exceptions, are timid and show dis
position To continue sacrificing the comfort,
health and even the lives Of our soldiers
TO an exploded theory
Whether the reasons governing the fail
ure of Congress to do its duty in this mat
ter are political or otherwise it is hard to
determine, but We are satisfied that there's
something wrong somewhere Some of tho
gentlemen on Capitol Hin who are sent
| there from states where prohibition has
worked out go beautifully -? could hardly
see their way clear to act as champions for
the restoration of the canteen. The Illicit
liquor dealers in their native baiwicks
| who wax fat In their business might put
them out Of the political game, and this
condition Of affairs would be awful
/ Coming down 10 logical facts, what is tho
| exact situation?
Major General Leonard Wood, Major
/ General Frederick D. Grant, Brigadier Cen
| 81 III uHoAiH anu lullulfuS VI tOlIilidlluihA
| officers throughout the country have urged
the restoration OF the canteen as necessary
] to the maintenance OF proper discipline. In
| their official reports TO the War Depart
ment this course has been favored time and
! time again We would respectfully submit
J 10 Congress our opinion that these gentle
men. who are the responsible heads Of the
army. should know what they are talking
/ about and are certainly In a better position
, to Judge the needs Of the service than peo-
pie who are in no way connected with it.
/ And here we wish to say few words in
! Justice to the women who were the spon-
! sors for the abolition of the canteen in the
army We believe In their absolute sin
/ coritv ard know that they were misguided
! in their judgment because they were not
| familiar with the exact conditions.
! Army life is. at best monotonous round
| OF daily duties when the men are not in
/ active service. We may even 30 so far as
/ 10 say that this kind OF lie pals on the
/ nerves and energies Of iull blooded hghting
/ men. and the necessity Tor temperate re-
/ taxation Is understood by the officers who
are charged with maintaining discipline
/ and who enjoy the privileges Of the officers
4 mess and service clubs
Tie editor Of The Army and Navy
! Magazine" Is familiar with conditions in
army posts throughout the United States
and in our island possessions. and his per
! sonaI observation is that the canteen is an
! absolute necessity. He has talked with
/ officers II every rank. and while we admit
| that some officers are opposed TO the can
| teen because Of personal opposition 10 the
/ nd az iufaNIfuufE the vast
/ minority OF them insist that il would bet
/ ter the service and make the men more
/ temperate and more satisfied with their
! surroundings. An erroneous impression
prevails with some people that when the
/ canteon was I'm active operation the soldiers
/ spent all their time IN drinking and carous-
/ ing such an idea h. ridiculous and absurd
lu the extreme Under the canteen system
each soldier vas allowed a limited amount
Of beer every day, and he could not obtain
any more.
The existing conditions are deplorable
from every standpoint. The police records
Of every city and town I'm the vicinity OF
an army post tell the tale. so that those
who run may read" Even In the ma
TONS capital where Congress meets 10
transact business scarcely day passes
that several soldiers do not find their way
10 the police stations. Sometimes they are
charged with serious crime which they
commit while under the influence OF the
vile LIQUOR that il served TO them in the
dives 20 which they resort. congressman
who read the newspapers must be familiar
with the stories, printed almost daily OF
lrawls and other dsreputable dongs IN
which soldiers have had hand Knowing
these facts, why do they not wake up to
the necessity OF doing their duty by re-
storing the canteen?
\ leading member OF tho House OK Rep
resentatives informed the writer few
DAYS ago that he is satisfied seven-elshths
o. that body recognize the necessity Tor
the canteen. but are afraid to he frank
about if because OF the volume Of vltupera-
ton that might follow.
In our opinion, man who considers
,hose things rather than his legitimate
business as a representative OF the people
is lax in his duty to his constituents and
,o the army, whose duty 1t is to defend
them.
The health Of the soldier is another inn
portant factor that should be considered
ir the ultimate settlement or the canteen
question. Army surgeons agree, and com
mon sense teaches, that the debauch In
which the soldier INDUCES periodically I'M
der existing conditions undermineS his
system and finally ruins his health. Beer
drunk In moderation daily, Is wholesome,
rourlshing food that assists the organs or
the oody in the performance OF their natu-
raj functions. 1t is used incidentally IN
both branches of the military service or
the United states. as we'll as as in govern
ment hospitals, soldiers homes and similar
institutions.
Another phase of the existing conditions
to which we wish 20 call particular atten-
ton is the establishment of low dives III
proximity to army posts. The vilest KIND
NJ louor is sold In these places-often con-
cocted by the proprietor. who operates MS
Mace without paying license 10 any one
hut the devil In conjunction with these
dives. and as an added attraction, shanty
~ often maintained which Is occupied by
two or more courtesans OF the lowest type.
This condition OF affairs Is disgusting In
IFS possibilities and It's terrible loathsome-
ness.
The conditions specified are actual, ana
rot colored The facts are startling. but
they are real. and We want the new Con-
| eress to take cognizance of them. AS prac-
teal men who are interested in the welfare
OF the army, the members Of Congress
| should do everything In their power To
| remedy existing evils. There IL no maudlih
sentimentality In this suggestion. Ii Is
! good business proposition, because there
never was time I'm the history OF TINS
country when greater necessity existed
for having the army IN good condition Tor