New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-26
ANTE-CANTEEN TRIUMPH
w. c. T. u. Hears Good News al
Gathering in Hotel Aston.
GEN. GRANT SENDS LETTER
Miles Maintains Army Is More
Free from Alcoholism To-day
than Ever Before.

What the white ribboners termed the
better half of the canteen question was
presented yesterday afternoon at the Hotel
Astor before a large and excited audience,
which was triumphant in tone when 1t
wasn't rumbIing angry echoes Of the meet
ing held on January s at the Waldori-As-
toria. when the restoration of the army can
teen was urged.
Fit cause for triumph. too Hadn't Cen
eral Nelson A. Miles joJrneyed all the way
up from Washington just TO address their
meeting? And hadn't Colonel L. NJ. Maus,
chief medical director and chief surgeon OF
the central division Of the United States
army, come from Chicago with the special
permission Of the Secretary of War?
The crowning triumph Of all, however
was the letter written by General Frederick
Dent Grant expressing himself as not in
favor Of restoring the canteen. This was
great point, for "at that dreadful wal
dorf- Astoria meeting" the head OF the
United States army had been represented
as fayorng its restoration.
That shows the kind Of half truths that
were given out at that meeting" said Mrs
Ella \. BooIe, president Of the Ne" fo'N
state Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, who was presiding General Grant
was once. years ago, in favor OF the res
toration Of the canteen, but they never once
mentioned at the Waldorf meeting thdt ne
had changed his mind. The letter was
written on January 10, before their meet
ing. YOU see. and reads as follows:
To the Editor OF The Union Signal
NV Dear Editor In reply 10 your telc-
gram, ! hasten to say that many tnes III
i'll ..FF 4
mended the restoration OF the 'aH'''" j"
the army.
This I did. believing that the cant.er
was Tn" lesser Of two evils. IN lhI IC"'isa
army has changed and TIA" solhclS WI" art
now iu the army have adjusted themselves
to present conditions -.
If the question were LETT 10 mo, c"lhs 10
this change of conditions, ! would not rec
ommcnd the restoration OF the cantecn.
Yours very truly.
FREDERICK y. GRANT.
There WAS another letter from Mrs
Grant. who admitted that when her hus-
band had favored the restoration OF the
cantccn she had too, but now that b" had
changed his mind she found herself 10
longer in favor of II. either.
General Miles argued that the army was
more free from alcoholism to-day than 1t
had ever been, aud proved by statistics
that the lack Of the canteen had not re-
suited IN increased desortions from ih"
army, as had been stated by th" agitat"rs
Of the restoration movement I'm 1911 the
descrtious amounted 10 ~ per cent Of the
whole army, he said; in 1871 to 90 per cent
the largest since the civil War. In roh-
trast To- these large numbers was On" 'ri'isg
amount OF dcScTIiuu of recent years, sine"
the cantepn was abolished-in 1901 ! per
cent. I'm 1910 3G7 per cent, and In 1911, only
22S per cent.
THE young men NJ the army Do" con
timed. "arc not addicted TO tho usc ~ h-
cohol unless it is put u their way. They
come mostly from country homes from .
influence OF good mothers. and drink is
not a fixed habit with them. a. 70 was,
perhaps, with the old Veterans who hll"d
the ranks in the years Of the Civ!i War
and before tho Spanish war brought I'm 80
many young recruits.
To-day The army man spends his leisure
in the recreation centre. where Their" are
books and magazines. or In the cymna-
stun Think what II would mean 90 have
two or three drunken rowdies disturbing
these peaceful hours. II would be IN every
way unwise and iujudIc"us 30 allow liquor
TO be- sold at all in the army posts. but
certainly tho sale Of IL should not Doc
CLOSED over Let the government erect a
separate building. II need be-. some distance
away from an On" others. and Jet % bear
i'm huge letters United States Government
Saloon. but I hope J shall never son that
retrogrcs-i v, movement"