The Army Canteen and Beer
All manner of schemes are being concocted by men interested in the beer business to make it appear that it was a mistake to abolish the army canteen. One of the features is the reading-room, and to show the alleged evil effects of abolishing the beer, a picture of the “deserted canteen” at the Presidio, San Francisco, was inserted in a daily paper. But the Pacific Ensign says, “It now comes ‘to light that the picture was secured by asking the ‘men to leave the room before it was taken.’” However, if the picture were a true representation, it would merely show that the beer was the attraction, and would be no argument in favor of the canteen institution from the standpoint of morality. But the idea of the liquor traffic’s advocating the canteen on the plea that the soldiers do not drink so much in the canteen as they would without it, is too absurd for serious consideration. That line of business is not conducted on the principle of curtailing sales, or of saving men from the drink habit.