The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-31


MI ,,,ns1.u'Si voiced by resolutions of Of
| and correspondence of men
| of fine moral fibre because the army
authorities in the Philippines have to
| some extent introduced the custom of
| licensing sexual vice. To what extent
| this has been done is in DISPUTE; but
1T is admitted that in some degree
compulsory medical examination and
certification of public women have been
| established as Il sanitary measure for
| the protection of the army. That the
| question of safeguarding large numbers
| OF soldiers is Il difficult and perbleXing
| one at best was shown during the early
days of the late war in the camps of
concentration. Although these We're
situated in the United States. amidst
the restraining influences of nearness
to home vice captured many victims.
In the tropics the problem is tenfod
more complex and the system employed
in the Philippines represents the most
careful Judgment of the army medical
authorities on the spot.
But Secretary Root, in Il general or
der just issued by direction of the
president, takes the position that this
is not enough. THE only really eff
ficient way in which to control the dis
eases due to immortality" the order
says, lis TO diminish the vice which is
the cause OF these diseases 1t is the
duty of regimental, and particularly of
company officers to try by precept and
example to point out to the men under
their control and particularly to the
younger men, the inevitable misery and
disaster which follow upon intemper-
ance and upon moral uncleanliness and
vicious living. The officers should, of
course, remember always that the eff
feet of what they say must largely
depend upon the lives they themselves
lead. 1t is in the highest degree neces- |
sary that each officer should be an ex-
ample TO his men in the way of tenn
perate and cleanly living. lie should |
point out to men, using the utmost |
tact, discretion ANA good sense that |
disease is almost sure to follow licen- |
tious living, that it is never IA trivial |
affair, and that it is worse than folly |
To believe that such Indulgence is nee
essaly to health.
THE officers should strive to teach
their men self-contrOl, to show them
that morality and efficiency i'm the life
of soldier, as in civil life, go hand i'm
hand. ldleness during the hours when
there are no military duties to perform
and the lack of healthful amusement
and occupation are provocative of de-
bauchery. Officers should do all in
their power to encourage healthy ex-
ercise and physical recreation, as well
as TO supply opportunities for cleanly
social and interesting mental occupa-
tions among the men. The young men.
especially many who have been but
recently taken away from the re-
straints and influences of home. should
be encouraged to look to their SUPER
iors, both commissioned and non-com-
mssoned officers, and especially to
the company, troop ana battery officers
for leadership and support amid the
around them. Every ef-
fort should be made to promote
the army cleanly and
moral tone in word no less than in
deed. AS a nation we feel keen pride
in the yalor discipline and steadfast
endurance of our soldiers, and hand in
hand with these qualities must go the
virtues of self-restraint, self-respeet
and self-conrol."
The order does not stop here. 1t in