Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-16
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
GEN. GRANT DIsAPPRovEs AC-
TON OF A'couRT-MARTIAL.
Trial Of Sergeant for Drinking With
Privates the Subject Of Forcible
Statement Of Views.

General Grant, commanding the Depart
ment OF Texas, has decided views on the
subjects of drinking and discipline in the
army, and he has just taken occasion to
express them in remarkably vigorous
manner.
Sergeant John r. Haynes 18th Cavalry,
was tried by court-martial, with Maj. H.
r. Kendall, 18th Cavalry, as president, at
Fort Clark, Tex, on the charge Of con-
duct to the prejudice Of good order and
military discipline. The specification was
that Haynes visited saloon in Bracket
Vile and drank intoxicating liquor in COM
pany with private soldiers, ito the detr-
ment and scandal of the military service"
Ihe finding of the court was guilty Of
the specification, excepting the words "to
the detriment and scandal of the military
service, and of the excepted words mot
guilty The court found the accused mot
guilty or the charge and acquitted him.
General Grant was very much dissatis-
fled with the result of this trial, and in
dorsed the record Of the court as follows
In the foregoing case the evidence shows
that the accused, together with number
or pr1vates, visited several of the drinking
resorts near Fort Clark on the night in
question. and drank whisky in at least one
OF these places in company with private
soldiers.
Saloons Of Brackettville
In order to shoW the true conditions Of
affairs in the immediate vicinity of this
post 1t is necessary to make a short state
ment OF facts, that, while not directly cited
IN the evidence, are SO notorious that they
must have been considered by the court
The post Of Fort Clark is directly contig-
uous to the town Of BrackettVile. Many
or the inhabitants of that place conduct
saloons Of the lowest type, which depend
almost solely upon soldier patronage. Some
II not all, OF these saloons dives of the
worst sort, where ambling is openly car
r1ed on, low women are permitted to ply
their trade, and other evil practices such
as selling and pawnlng government prop
erty are permitted and in some cases even
encouraged. Soldiers from the post are
tempted to run into debt to these resorts
to ruin themselves mentally, morally and
physically with drink, and to practically
sell themselves, body and soul, to the vul-
lures who fatten on this miserable trade
In fact it is impossible adequately to de-
scribe the depths to which these people
will descend to get the soldiers money.
During the year ending February l. 1903
there were IS trials by general court martial
and 63S trials by summary court at Fort
Clark. During the same period "a enlisted
men of the garrison were sentenced by
court martial to dishonorable discharge. Of
these cases it is safe to say that 80 per cent
could be traced to the pernicious influences
OF the vile resorts of Brackettville, and
such record is not unusual for a post
situated like Fort Clark. In fact this post
was unusually well commanded and adj
ministered during most of the year.
Responsibility of "Non-Com."
"On consideration Of these facts which
could be almost Indefinitely multiplied, the
result reached is-conclusive that discipline
is vitality affected by the patronage Of these
resorts by the troops-any other conclusion
would be absurd. If proper discipline and
"a Il
necessary to discourage and prevent as
far as practicable the practice of visiting the
places referred to; and every effort should
and must be made in that direction. Nom
commissioned officers not only should be, but
are examples for the men under them to
follow. Their conduct virtually determines
the discipline of the troops. If they fire.
quent low resorts, drink and carouse therein
with privates, the result is sure to be that
the more decent Of their subordinates will
desptse and lose all respect for them, while
the weak and naturally vicious will follow
their example and in either event their use
fulness as non-commissioned officers is de-
stroyed and discipline materially affected.
TT is deeply to be regretted that it is
necessary to call attention to these almost
automatic facts, but the conclusion arrived
at by the court shows that such action is
necessary. If the acts of this accused were
not to the detriment and scandal of the
military service and prejudicial to good
order and military discipline then indeed
has the morale of the service fallen to a low
ebb. That a court should deliberately put
itself on record as opposed to the efforts of
higher authority to maintain discipline las
the action of this court tndicates) is in it
self the worst possible arraignment of the
courts action. If the finding in this case
be allowed to stand 1t will be used as pre-
cedent against good order, decency and dis
cipline.
THE findings and acquital are dsapprov-
ed. Sergt. Haynes will be restored to duty
This order will be read to every organi-
cation in the department at retreat roll-call
for three successive days