Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-05-09

gives the following reasons why the
army eanteen" should not exist:
Il viii give the following reasons for
my opposition to the army canteen. via:
"FirsS-It presents the saloon to tho
recruit in it's least Questionable form.
Many Of our soldiers come from the
rural districts where they never entered
nor even saw saloon. Arriving a; an
army post they find the sSloou called
canteen. established bv the United States
government, managed by army officers
and in many cases made as reputable as
such an institution can De. liz is the
place Of resort for nearly all the soldiers
OF the garrison. They live in an atmos-
phere that makes them feel that the
thing 20 do Is 10 spend their money at
The canteen; il helps the company mess.
The most Of the recruits yield. and soon
form the beer habit.
The credit system prevails. The sold
Ter. being on, Of money. obtains checks
on the osnteen. presumably for a small
part. but actoallv. IN most cases for a
large part Of his pay
''Tbis debt he is compelled TO paw on
paw day. DE receives his money at the
payable and immediately goes 10 the
-anteen officer and pays a large part,
pei hsps ali OF Il. TO the oanteen. In a
few days be is out Of money again and
repeats the same process, month after
month. during ms term OF service.
He entered the service free from dunk
and debt habit he Is discharged with
both fixed upon him.
"Sccond-The canteen stands as con.
slant invitation 10 the total abstainer
TO drink. as temptation TO the moder-
ate 6rinker 20 dunk more, and as a coz
venlence 10 the 6runkard 10 load up on
beer when he has not the means TO OBJ
tain anything stronger.
Third-The constant presence OF the
cautecn and The credit system offer OBJ
Oortunities for the soldier TO keep slight
ly under The influence Of liquor all the
time. Il was 10 unusual thing 20 ind 6
company Il commanded a accompany more
than twenty years. on inspection. with
a majority OF its mcn more or less undei
the influence Of liquor. bat not 50 muol
as 20 subject them to punishment. bu
they could not perform their duty a
well as they could II they had not beei
drinking.
"ForrtA-If there is no canteen at Al
army post saloons VIII spring Up Jus
beyond the military reservation. but c
50 vile a character that respectable sole
iers VII not visit them. When ! con
rnanded a company four-hfths OF nv ne
would not 20 near such 6ens Of vice.
The drunkard would have his pa
day spree, spend al his money. ser,
sentence Of court martial and be sob,
the rest OF the time.
/, The viler the outside deus Of iniquit
are the better for the morals OF the "a
rison, because they keep respectable me
away and the majority arc respectable
Z "FIfth-There doubtless have be,
cases when The canteen has been Of ter
porary benefit 10 him who avails h;r
self oft. But i VIII Be ruiuous 10 hi
8 in the end So viii the osnteen syste
p ruin tie army.
v SiIth-Tbe canteen system, in 7
4 opinion, resolves itself into this questio
Is Il beat 20 keep a constant template,
befor the total abstainers and uodera
&c drinkers tor the purpose OF oontrollii
q | the few orunkardsS
Many Of the railroad companies a
business firms require total abstiner
= Of al their employees. Only imagine III
establishing canteens for them, Ira
''e men slightly dared with beer, belle
n the government should require the sa
r OF the army.
- ~YOu are al liberty 10 use this as '
please Yours trEly.
"A :. DAGGETI
"Bngsdier General Z. S. A. retire