The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-27
DRINKERS IN THE NAVY.
They Prevent Enforcement of an I'm
portant Regulation.

To people who know anything about
the United States navy all this neWSpa-
per talk about the officers who smuggled
intoxicating liquors into Porto Rico
must seem tremendously funny. The
navy, like the army, has its phase of the
liquor problem, but the thing has been
settled differently in the two branches
OF service. When congress abolished the
army canteen post commanders did try
to carry out the law. The naval regula-
uons are just as strict against officers
taking their own supply of spirits on
board any vessel of the navy but the
rule is never enforced.
We say never because in the past
three administrations there is but one
record OF man who tried to have the
rule generally enforced in any squadron
of the United States navy He was
good man, but he did not appreciate the
danger that he ran in trying to live up
to the naval regulations. His fate is so
well known among naval officers that
nobody has tried to initiate him since his
career ended so disastrously.
1t was during the administration Of
President Cleveland a little more than
ten years ago, that Capt. Allen ReeI
became a horrible example to any oft
Ger who might be tempted to believe
that the naval regulation against
whisky and brandy in officers state
rooms was attended to be enforced.
Capt. Reed did actually enforce the
rule for time under q vessel in his
command. He made plenty of enemies
by it but he stuck to his belief that as
the rule was in the naval regulati tiOns,
he was in honor bound to enforce it
The officers under him did not agree
with him. and the consequence was
that one charge after another was
trumped up against him by some junior
officers with a society pull at Wash
ingtOn. Each charge was investigated
and each time the department decided
that the captain was entirely in the
right. He had just carried out a hydro
rrrt4a ,I-
TO the worlds commerce. and the naVS
de-lartneent felt that he was one Of
the briSh htest and ablest officers on the
rolls in active service Consequently
Secretary Herbert recommended that
he be promoted to the rank of COM
modore, which meant a further promo
tlOn to that of admiral within a few
years at most He was examined for
promotion, and the recommendation 9r
the examiners was unanimous that the
promotion be made at once
IhlS eXasperated still more the men
who objected to Captain Reeds enforce
ment of the naval regulation against
WHISKY Consequently they started an
agitation at Washington against his
promotion. Every officer was told that
if Reed became admiral it would mean
that the naval regulations. instead of
being a dead letter would be pIlt in
force on every vessel under his com
mand. The CONSERVATION that followed
in naval circles was tremendous The
naval influence at Washington was
strong enough to get President CleVe-
land to withdraw the nomination of
Captain Reed for commodore, and, not
satisfied with that. Reed was told that
it was inadvisable longer to have him in
active service any longer and that he
would be placed on the retired list.
Mind. this was the very man who had
been picked out for promotion for spe-
cially meritoriOus service, and in whose
favor the inspection board of the navy
department had reported unanimously
The mere fact that he intended honestly
to carry into effect the navy depart
ments positive prohibition of whisky
and brandy in officers staterooms was
enough to drive him out of the navy,
although when the Spanish war came
on the department was forced to ask
him to come back into service until the
peace Of Paris was arranged. Then he
was shelved again, and although no
charge has ever been brought against
him to this day. he has been forced to
live on half pay simply because he tried
to carry out the very regulations he had
sworn to enforce.
Since then other officers have been too
wise to initiate him.-ROStOn Advertiser