The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-30
"POKER AT THE POSTS"

Recent developments seem to indicate
that the regular army posts and stations
are kept for the purpose OF educating to the
fullest extent the regular soldiers, and es
peclally the epauletted pensioner upon the
government in all the intricacies OF that p,-
culiarly American game known AZ poker
The Indian troubles are confined to the far
southwest, and in AL other sections of tie
country. wherever the flag OF liberty floats
over an army-post, peace lives and reiens
despotic and alone. The officer and the
soldier are simply national boarders. upon
good pay. luxuriating in the paradses of
nothing-to-do. How natural then that an
effort should be made to drive away dull
care, to speed the leaden hour and lend n
roseatc hue to the monotonous scenes sur.
roundinga national boarding house! How
natural that patriotism should suggest at
once as the best means for accomplish.
ing the end in view the national game of
poker, whore excitement and good strong
pull on mans courage wait upon the
triiling inroads that are made upop thu
pocket Backed by such weighty reason
ing is 1t at all strange that poker has be.
come synonym with army post and that
this seductive AMI patriotic vice has spread
through the great American regular army
with the hold and ubiquity of an epidemic ?
1t looks like cruelty to break up this pleas
ant diversion, this panacea Of the soldiers
solitude and ennui but the unpleasant
facts that have recently come to light by
which two or three paymasters and other
army officers have become heavy default.
ers, and thrown cloud over the "honor"
of the army by conduct unbecominr A
gentleman and an officer" through their
devotion to this popular game.
seems to demand that the war
department should enquire into the extent
that this evil has reached in the army
How many more officers having funds OF
the government in their possession are de.
laulters? How many more of them are vic,
tins to "a haste TO become rich," deyo.
ton to pairs and ilushesf 1t may be safely
set down as a truthful proposition that
where poker nourishes, there danger turks
also, and ifthe general of the army or the
secretary OF war know anything at all, they
must know that recent developments max,
1t incumbent for them to 20 through the
army and break up this fearful demoraliza
tion that has taken hold of the army posts
five cannot do anything with the army
but keep IL free from any prevalent or com
mon vice, or vice, more properly, extend
ing throughout the army, we can and ough,
at least do that much. In the absence Of
the necessity for any susa In
ed or prolonged military maneu
vers or operations, and in tn,
universal quiet and peace throughout III,
United States, II ought to be possible to nc
manage army posts and the small humble,
Of officers ana regiments that the morale o
this arm ought to be the boast of tho coun
try. Discipline should DO US thorough ant
activity as enforced as In times of war I,
prevent the growth q disgraceful practice
and the rottenness that springs from idl,
habits. As diminutive as the army Is |,
seems to need good deal Of looking afle
and great deal Of publication and the un
expected and shameful conduct Of officer
standing ~ we'll as MAJOR WATSON an,
MAJOR AoRRow should teach the derar,
ment at Washington the necessity ex,stip
for thorough reform Of the manner Of III
q the posts and on furloush Of the OHIO !,
who are depended upon not only 70 10,