The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-18
TROOPS AND STRIKERS
General Ruger's Report on the
Recent Labor Troubles in
California.

WASHINGTON. Oct. IS, 1Ss4.-The an
nual report of Brigadier General Thomas
H. Ruger, commanding the Department
of California, dated August 25, is almost
wholly devoted to a detailed account of
the events following the receipt by him
on the evening of July l of the Presi-
dents orders to enforce the mandates
of the United States Courts and prevent
obstruction of the mails, practically end
ing with the withdrawal of the troops
from active field service in Southern
California.
On August 16 Gen. Ruger's troops dis
tributed between Los Angeles and Sacra-
mento. practically comprised the effective
force of his department. and he was COM
PEELED to call upon the navy to guard
Oakland. Several companies of the Ma
tional Guard also acted in concert with
the Federal forces and rendered efficient
service. Gen. Ruger especially COM
mends the great assistance rendered by
THE STRIKE SITUATION.
At Sacramento, he says, the phase of
had far passed the limits implied by the
word strike. The acts, manner of pro
cedure and intent, as evidenced by the
h insSrr 81 tmnss ehE Eacep,t T for the aist aefjog
of the troops the disorder would have
been prolonged, and in all probability
would not have been ended without seri-
Gus bloodshed, and after the destruction
of much property. To the report, which
Is brief, are appended numerous reports
from staff officers describing in extend
ed detail he railway troubles. Very few
recommendations are made except in re-
gard to post exchanges, which are criti-
elzed almost as severely as BY General
General Evan Miles comments as fol-
POST EXCHANGES.
''The Introduction of the sale of beer
at a post exchange meets with objections
from two classes of people. viz.:-The
Christian Temperance advocates and the
published by the latter against the sale
of it do not treat the subject fairly and
dispassionately. In my opinion they are
jumped from a too hasty and superficial
consideration of the subject. TIL Of
fetal reports of the post commanders on
file in the Wal Department, show that
as a moral influence in the interest of
discipline and good order, the post ex-
change has achieved a general ~unexpect-
1.-THE promoters and advocates of the
scheme intended the post exchange to
be a place of rational amusement and
comfort of the enlisted men, to the end
that they would spend their evenings in
1t instead of visiting saloons. There has
been considerable discussion at posts
with reference to so much of paragraph
s29 OF the Army Regulations that directs
beer to be sold in a room used for no
other purpose, and when practicable, in
a building apart from that in which the
post exchange is located, as 1t would pre-
vent men who neither care to drink
themselves at a bar, nor like to be pres
ent when such drinking is going on. 1t
certainly is not wise to turn our amuse-
ment room into a beer resort, nor is it
necessary.
Beer selling is too strongly suggestive
OF the outside saloon and a certain
class of soldiers believe that it is a
prominent feature in the exchange,
where they are authorized to congre-
to remain in the room where beer is
sold. In fact, it should be prohibited.
It has been my experience that soldiers
are not, rs rule, men given to drink,
and when beer was sold In a room adj
joining the amusement room it did not
prevent this class of men from visiting