Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-14
PROBATE COURT.
A Protest From Fort Myer.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
May 1 request that you permit me in the
name Of my comrades and myself to protest
through the medium Of your paper against
the Wholesale condemnation and vituperation
heaped upon us by person who signs him.
self J. Emner. jr., in The EVENING STAR Of
the 18th inst. and who evidently has had q
falling out with the police of this District The
particular misrepresentation refer to is to
the effect that every tramp, bum, thief and
yagabond, &C., finds a home in the United
States army, where he is supported by long
suffering fellow citizens Of the Mr.. J. Emner,
il, stamp. This desire to correct There is not
the slightest grain, atom, molecule of founda-
ton for a statement of this kind, as the rules
and regulations, strictly enforced, regarding the
enlisting of recruits will show, and as nearly
every ordinarily informed man already knows.
1t is necessary for any man wishing to enlist in
the United States army to be of respectable APP
pearance, at least. and have suitable references,
which are Investigated thoroughly. He must
also be physically sound. and, therefore, except
in exceptional cases, could not have been o
chronic inebriate and drunkard. In the event,
however. of such a man enlistinS and con-
tinuing his drunken habits he is, upon five
convictions before o military tribunal, re-
turned 20 his old associates in civilian life. dis
charged with ignominy from the United States
army AGAIN, Win IeBdro " tuo tuAe'eo anu
vagaboads' represented by Mr.. j. Emner. jr.,
to be safely housed IN orr ranks, gentleman
of this class would hardly reach regiment.
having found his level at the recruiting depot
in either the guard house" or the Heaven
worth military prison" II Mr.. Emner. jr..
would enlist Tor u short time in the service.
rather think that unless his body be healthier
| than his mind and he be a fair athlete in mod
crate training, he would wish that he were
| somewhere eisc rather than the cav
airy riding school, soldiers gymnasium
| tails of the n.uch-abused soldiers duty.
| II little more were generally known by the
American public OF the trials and hardships o!
a soldier life, and il they could only have n
| side light and see the soldier In his normal
position. in the west fighting, freezing and
| sometimes almost starving, at the same time
performing deeds OF heroisnl, as only last win
| ter Will bear witness. unsurpassed If eqIaicd
/ by the soldiers of other countries, and which
would have there been rewarded by the Vic
| toris Cross of England or the Iron Cross of
Prussia. they would perhaps think better of the
plain, blue-coated thief, drunkard and vaga-
| bond Mr.. Emner, jr., imagines he sees in every
| vearer OF the United States military uuitoym.
| l must strenuously deny that the classes above
| mentioned are to be found in the ranks OF the
United States army at ALL II by all chance
| such a one should become one OF US, he would
| speedily, upon being discovered in his proper
colors. be returned to his former standing as q
| citizen In CONCLUSION, the advice would
give Mr.. Emner. jr., is to leave the army GU,
Of the question in his newspaper articles or tc
learn a little more about il first. We try hard
hard to do honor to ourselves as soldiers Of the
| republic, but what are we to do il the republic
| Gisowns and is ashamed Of us without lust
cause? A UNITED STATES SoLpIKR.