The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-20
GENERAL DAGGETT
ON The CANTEEN.
His Reasons for Unqualified Oppo-
sitiOn to the Institution.

General Aaron S. Daggett, U. S. A.,
who retired last spring after forty
years service, has written the follow
ing letter in regard to the army can
teen question:
West Harpswell Me, July "a. 1901.
The Rev DR.. J. b. Dunn. Ocean Grove, y. J.
Dear Sir-In reply to your letter of
the 22d inst. I will give you the follow
ing reasons for my opposition to the
canteen, namely:
First-It presents the saloon to the
recruit in its least Objectionable form.
Many of our soldiers come from the
rural districts, where they never enter
ed nor even saw saloon. Arriving at
an army post, they find the saloon,
called canteen, established by the
United States Government, managed
by army officers, and in many cases
made as reputable as such an institu-
tion can be. 1t is the place of resort
for nearly all the soldiers of the garri-
son. They live in an atmosphere that
makes them feel that the thing to do
is to spend their money at the canteen;
it helps the company mess. The most
Of the recruits yield, and soon form the
beer habit,
The credit system prevails. The SOL
dier, being out of money, obtains
checks on the canteen, presumably for
small part, but actually, in most
cases, for large part of his pay.
This debt he is compelled to pay on
payday. He receives his money at the
pay table, and Immediately goes to the
canteen officer and pays large part,
perhaps all of it, to the canteen. In a
few days he is out of money again, and
repeats the same process, month after
month, during his term of service.
He entered the service free from the
drink and debt habit. He is discharged
with both fixed upon him,
Second-The canteen stands as con
stant invitation to the total abstainer
to drink, as a temptation to the moder
ate drinker to drink more, aud as 8
L
on beer when he has not the means tC
obtain anything stronger.
Third-The constant presence of tbs
canteen and the credit system offer op
portunities for the soldier to keel
slightly under the influence of liquor
all the time. 1t was no unusual thing
to find company II commanded com
many more than twenty years., on in
spection, with a majority of its mel
more or less under the influence of liq
uor, but not so much so as to subiec
them to punishment; but they coull
not perform their duty as well as the.
could if they had not been drinking.
Fourth-If there is no canteen at al
army post, saloons will spring up jus
beyond the military reservation, but o
so vile character that respectable
soldiers will not visit them. When
commanded company four-ifths o
my men would not go near such dens o
vice.
The drunkards would have their pay
day spree, spend all their money, serv,
lsentence of court martial, and be sobe
the rest OF the time.
The viler the outside dens of iniquit,
are the better for the morals of thI
garrison, because they keep respectable
men away, and the majority are re
Ispectable.
Fifth-There doubtless have beel
cases when the canteen has been o
temporary benefit. 1t said that false
hood may be OF temporary benefit Il
him who avails himself of it. But i
will be ruinous to him in the end, S.
will the canteen system be to the army
Sixth-The canteen system, in m.
opinion, resolves itself into this CUES
.tion: Is it best to keep a constant temp
tation before the total abstainers ant
moderate drinkers for the purpose o
controlling the few drunkards?
Many of our railroad companies ant
business firms require total abstinence
of all their employees. Only imagin
their establishing canteens for them
Trainmen slightly dazed with beer
l believe the government should requir
the same of the army.
You are are at liberty to use this a
you please. Yours truly,
A. S. DAGGETT,
Brigadier- General U. S. A., retired
i