The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-22

General Dagsett, Retired, Tells why
He Is Opposed to Ii.

In the advance by the American column
at Picking for the relief of the legations
Col. Aaron s. Daggett, of the Fourteenth
Infantry. was the second in command, and
his men were the first to scale the walls.
For Colonel Daggett's bravery on that
occasion he was appointed by President
Mckinley, on the Geographic recommended
ton of General Chaffee. a brigadier gem
eral. Than Genera. Daggett the United
States holds no truer. drawer Christian
patriot. What the general thinks of the
canteen will be seen from the following
letter:
West Harpswell, Me-, July "a, 1901.
Rev. ]. b. Dunn, ID. d., Ocean Grove,
Dear Sir-In reply to your letter of the
22d instant | will give the following rea-
sons for my opposition to the army can
teen:
cruit in it's least Objectionable form. Many
of our soldiers come from the rural dis
tricts. where they never entered nor even
saw a saloon. Arriving at an army post
they find the saloon. called canteen. estab-
lished by the United states government,
managed by army officers and in many
cases made as reputable as such an insti-
tuition can be. 1t is the place of resort
for nearly all the soldiers of the garrison.
They live in an atmosphere that makes
them feel that the thing to do is to spend
their money at the canteen; IL helps the
company mess. The most OF the recruits
yield and soon form the beer habit. The
out of money, obtains checks on the can
teen. presumably for a small part, but
Of his pay. This debt he is compelled to
pay on pay day. He receives his money
at pay-table and Immediately goes 10 the
canteen officer and pays a large part. per-
haps all of il. 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 a con-
slant invitation to the total abstainer to
drink, as a temptation 10 the moderate
drinker TO drink more and as a conven-
fence to the drunkard to load up on beer
when he has not the means to obtain any
thing stronger.
'"Third-The constant presence of the
canteen and the credit system offer oppor-
tunities for the soldiers TO keep slightly
under the influence of liquor all the time.
1t was no ncomm thing TO find a COM
twenty years.. on inspection. with a ma
jority OF its men more or less under the
influence of liquor. but not so much so as
could not perform their duty as well as
they could II they had not been drinking.
"Fourth-If there is no .%canteen at an
army post. saloons will spring up Just be-
You'd the military reservation, but of so
vile a character that respectable soldiers
VIII not VISIT them. Wnen L commanded
a company four-ifths of my men would
not go near such dens Of vice. The drunk
ards would have their payday spree.
spend all their money. serve sentence of
cOurt-martial and be sober the rest of the
time. The viler the outside dens OF in
EQUITY the better for the morals of the
garrison. because they keep respectable
men away, and the majority are respecta-
BILE.
"~Fifth-There doubtless nave been cases
when the canteen has been of temporary
benefit. IT is said that falsehood may be
OF temporary benefit to him who avails
himself OF it. But it will be ruinous to
him in the end. So will the canteen sys-
tenn be TO the army.
'Sixth-The canteen system, in my opin-
Ton. resolves itself into this question: Is it
best 10 keep a constant temptation before
the total abstainers and moderate drinkers
for the purpose of controlling the few
drukards? Many of our railroad COM
panies and business firms require total
abstinence OF all their employees. Only
ina gin their establishing canteens for
them. Trainmen slightly dazed with beer
I believe the government should require
the same of the army. You are at liberty
to use this as you please. Yours truly.
"A. s. DAGGETT,
"Brigadier General u. 6 A Retired .,