Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-25
Euri1u juru 4nrsda sarh rs 1907

comparatively small circle of men who
are admitted to hospital time and again
for treatment of disease contracted
thru Incorporate and vicious habits
seriously injure their value to the serv-
ice and at times utterly destroy their
usefulness. That in SO doing they throw
upon the more respectable class of en-
listed men the entire burden of the du-
ties they have untitled themselves to
perform. He warns that "idleness dur
ing the hours when there are no mill
tary duties to perform, and the lack OF
healthful amusement and occupation,
are provocative of debauchery," and in
sists that young men recently taken
from the restraining influences OF nome
be encouraged by these officers to resist
the temptations and inclinations to vice
that seem to have heretofore been
portion of the regular service.
This order is significant in more ways
than one. Beyond it's promise for bet
ter things, it emphasizes the change OF
army sentiment that has followed
somewhat behind the change in public
opinion on the question of liquor drink
ing. 1t marks the difference between
the army of Scott and the one from
which the retirement of General Miles
is soon to be effected. The old army,
in many respects, approximated that
famous one in Flanders. Drinking
bouts, where men fell beneath the ta-
BILE and he who fell last beside his chair
was king of the feast, were common
among the army officers of that time.
mate amusement The enlisted men of
the regulars were gathered from the
purlieus or were recruited from that
class of broken adventures and quasi
criminals to whom the soldiers uniform
offered a refuge from creditors or the
consequences of crime. With officers
who gambled and drank to excess and
rank and file drawn from the lowest
stratum of society, the morale of the
army lacked and continued to lack
much 1t fought well against English
men, Mexicans or Indians thru the day
and too often continued the attack on
King Barleycorn thru the night. The
army was mere fighting machine, and
so long as it fought we'll the nation at
large thought little and cared less about
its morals or the future of the individu-
ais who composed it.
1t is gratifying to observe the change.
Instead of a blear-eyed mob, with
which Falstaff might have refused to
march thru Coventry, squad of re-
cruits. of the present day is composed
of bright, clean-looking young men,
good material for wise officer to work
into shape for respectable citizenship
during the period of enlistment. There
is no intention on the part Of the pres
school or a band of hope. Those who
know him will realize that, but il his
order is accepted in the spirit 1t is pro-
mulgated the rank and file of the army
will be taught to despise drunkard to
shun degrading vice and to learn the
splendid manliness of the man who
promulgated it. There is no real reason
why a term of enlistment in the regu-
lar army should not be made a means
of moral as we'll as physical discipline,
rather than a term of training in i'm
moral dissipation.
There is no true reason why the en-
listed man should not retire from the
army better fitted to take and keep a
respectable position in society than
when he entered it. There is every
reason why the young men who are be-
ing enlisted every day should have the
benefit of good example from the men
who are to control them and should
benefit by the precept and watchfulness
of their officers. President Roosevelt's
order is wise and will meet the approx
al of all except that class of camp fol-
lowers who feed on the vices and weak
nesses Of the enlisted men.