The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-02
GAMBLING IN THE ARMY.
Views Of Gen. McCook on the Great
est Failing of the
Soldier.
The Vice Is Very Much Less Prev
alent Than Few Years
Ago.
Gen. NcCook Does Not Permit 1t Among
Omcers of His Command-Less
Drinking.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS Mo-, Sept. While
preparations were being made for the state
camp of instruction, which was recently
brought to a close, Gen. Alex. McD. Nc
Cook, with some of his officers, was here.
picking out the line for the occupation of
the United States troops. Some very inter-
esting conversations were had with Gen.
McCook on the improvements that have
taken place in army manners within the
last few years. He is one of that old style
of officers who always regard their subal-
terms in the light of sons, over whose well
fare watch must be kept. Meeting him one
evening on the veranda of The Eims, the
conversation drifted to the subject of gam
bling, owing to an allusion to poker. The
General-he had not yet received notice of
his promotion-inquired about the welfare
of an old st. Louis friend, a lawyer. in
whom he takes great interest.
"Oh," answered the Generals interlocu-
tor, she is doing very we'll in practice, but
still keeps up the old delusion that he can
play poker"
'"rhen he is dod blamed fool" The
real expression was little stronger than
this. ANY man who plays poker is either
q fool blackguard or thief"
But, general, army officers play poker"
mot at Fort Leavenworth. sir. Not a
dollar in money or value is played for at
Fort LeavenW orth from one year to another,
and none have been played for at that post
for several years past. Walk with me to
the spring and I'll tell you my views on the
question:"
started on what is to him, evidently.
fayorite subject. II have seen in my long
army life," said he, 'the most promising
careers wrecked by this gambling mania.
I have sat up nights with comrades who
would play, simply to protect them: Before
had authority to check the vice have seen
ferers-the wives, the children and other
relatives. whose welfare was being thrown
into the gambling pot. never played for
dollar myself, though l know all card
games, and never saw dollar played for
except where was trying to protect COM
rade. ! always say to a young oiicer VINO no
comes to my post at Leavenworth, II he
shows the slightest inclination to gambling,
that he must make his choice between quit
ting or being considered either fool, n
thief or blackguard, and to-day. at Leav-
enworth, out of the eighty-fve officers
of Military Application, there il not one
who plays cards for money. l wouldn't
permit it,
The statement was SO astounding, espe-
cially in view of what has VIGOROUSLY been
the case at some army posts IN years re-
Gently past, that it was impossible to sup
press an exclamation that sounded like In
credulity.
ais this SO at all posts?" was asked.
II believe not at all, but it is SO at Leav-
enworth. just see what gambling at an
army post means. A young officer, probab-
ly married. in the excitement of game,
and carried away by the hardihood which
Il soldier always feels as one of his princi-
pal virtues, loses months pay. Who suf-
fers for it? Necessarily his family. But
he thinks he can win it back, with more ad-
t!ed Then who suffers! The other fell
lows family Think of this see-saw bust
ness of coveting your friends money and
gaining what you have not earned, and see
how 1t breaks up comradeship. See, too,
how the gambling spirit leads to dishonor.
Lieutenant A. has lost a months pay to
Captain b., or vice versa, and then the
loser for the time being is waiting for an
opportunity to get even.' If the loser
catches the winner III reckless mood. per
haps little 'tiresome' from the very tri-
umph of his gambling success, then comes
the time to get even.' That means play
ing the blackguard, taking advantage of a
comrades cor, Weakness s;mn,a Later sbins on 1T
manipulate the cards, or at least, learn
some special points about them that are
not known by the adversary. That means
thief written in big black letters. And all
gambling between officers means destruc'
ton to that true com,adeship which should
enable the soldier to place the most lmpllci,
reliance on his brother at arms, Thank
God the entire thing is dying out in the
United States army"
''In the whole army?"
Eyes. in the whole army. ! may say nov
without fearing successful contradiction
that where we had ten gamblers in tn,
whole United States army few years ag,
we have not one to-day, and the few tina
there are are only to be found in some out
lying posts or in the'east. There may be som
at Riley, but, on the whole, the disease
practically cured in the army"
''How about drinking?"
II said just now that there is not one gan
bier in the army where there used to be tel
will add that among army officers there
not one drunkard where there used to be
hundred"