The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-20
MAN-0F- WAR'S MEN.
Why 1t Is SO Difficult to Enlist
Them in America.
Favoritism and nl-Treatment the Principal
Csuses-No Chance for Promotion.
= Sailors Complaint.

'HOw is it that men show such dislike
to the naval service? There are lots of sea-
men in San Francisco at the present time
yet, for some reason or other. men can't be
got to man the ship now at Mare Island"
This was the inquiry made yesterday of an
eX- naval officer by CALL reporter.
We'll" was the reply, 'tnere are num-
Der Of reasons why Uncle Sam can't get
men. One reason is that when a sailor goes
on board a man-of-war he is never sure of
getting ashore again until his time expires,
as it is entirely optional with the Com
mander whether lie gives his men liberty or
not. Some men are very fortunate in this
respect and may have the privilege accorded
almost every day, while others can never
gain the required permission.
HOW THE PAYMAsTER GROWS RICH.
Another reason is that on most of the
vessels the men are greatly overcharged for
nearly everything they get from the Pay
master, such as clothing, tobacco and so,
and the profits thus made 20 into the pockets
Of the Paymaster. Then again, many of
The officers are very OYerbearing in their
treatment OF those under them, forgetting
that the men In blue shirts are often just as
smart as some Of those who wear gilt
buttons.
" have heard young officers talk to men
more like as if they were dogs than men,
and knowing what do of the service | am
never surprised when | hear OF ship losing
many Of her crew by desertion. OF course,
all the oftcerS are not alike IN regard to
their treatment of the men, but there are
sure to be enough on board every ship to
make the men disconnected.
FEW RE-ENLISTMENTs.
4" Few Of those who join the service ever
enlist for second cruise. One dose is gen.
orally enough. The few that do enlist a sec
Ond time are invariably foreigners.
Then a man who chooses the naval SER
vice for life profession has a very poor
prospect before him. He may get to be a
frSt-claSS petty officer, but no matter how
smart or how much he may study and inn
prove himself he can never hope TO obtain
commission. Looking at it from business
point 80 per cent OF Americans can do far
better in any other following ashore, and
they would be foolish to enter a service in
which they could never be anything better
than an enlisted man.
Again, most Of the petty officers on board
the ships now in commission are Germans
or ScandlnaVians, no matter how many
native Americans there may be on board
No man can say that the men chosen to ill
the positions Of petty officers are the best
seamen, for 1t is well known that the
American seaman is the equal of any in
bilt NUllu.
NEW LAW IN FORCE.
'Since the civil waE our navy has been
chiefly manned by foreigners. Not more
than 20 per cent Of the crews since that time
have been American citizens, and now that
the law requires the navy to be manned only
by citizens the source of supply has been
shut off. The result follows, that now that
we have ships we cannot get crews fer
them, while only few years ago, when we
did not possess a vessel fit to carry the stars
and stripes across the ocean, we could get
men enough to man fifty ships year"
A sEAAfAN's STORY.
An ex-man-Of-war's man, who is now in
the Postoffice Department, was next seen
and corTobOrated the officers story. 81
served three years in the navy" he said,
"and in order to keep out of trouble | stood
more than l would ever stand again. | got
an honorable discharge when my time ex-
pired, but under no circumstances would ]
go into the navy again. a man is treated
like dog, and no American will put up
with 1t long. Go on board the Omaha" he
continued, and look at her crew Nearly
all OF them are foreigners, not even white
men. Then ask yourself if that is fit place
for an intelligent man to spend three OF the
best years of his life"