The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-19
THE SOCIAL POSITION
OF THE MEN OF THE NAVY.

The following comment. from the
Mobile Register, relative to the social
position of the men of the American
navy inspired by a recent interview
with Rear Admiral Wise. formerly COM
mandant Of the Pensacola navy yard,
viii prove Of especial interest to Pen
sacolians at this time. in view of the
approaching visit of the battleshfp
squadron to this. port;
On Saturday night Rear Admiral
Wise, who is in Mobile investigating
the manner in which steamboats, arc
Inspected. stated to a representative
OF the Register that he would hail
With delight the time when the men
c. the American navy would be valued
a. their real worth and not be treated
as social outcasts. The interviewer
legged to differ with the retired naval
officer that the "bluejackets" are class
ed below ordinary Worl1ingmen by the
citizens OF places where there are ma
val stations, but the rear admiral cited
Instances Of his own knowledge. which
demonstrated the truth of his asser-
aon. One instance Will suffice for the
whole. At Newport News. while Rear
ADMIRAL Wise was in command of the
raining squadron, an enlisted seaman
entered the hall Of the Young Mems
Christian Association and was given
the cold shoulder by those present.
Dofing his uniform he paid another
visit 10 the same institution and was
warmly welcomed until he mentioned
tie GOODNESS OF his former reception
Then it was explained to him that
that branch OF the Young Mems Chris
tan Association did not care to have
men of the navy among is members
and that there was a special branch
for them Rear Admiral Wise has de-
voted much time 10 movements for
ameliorating the condition of United
States sailors, and is an enthusiastic
member OF civilian organization which
has for its object the overcoming Of
the ostracism which appears TO follow
enlistment.
And now comes a "Bluejacket" in
the New York Sun. who describes such
an instance ss the naval officer COM
plains of. Certain petty officers at OLD
Point Comfort, who were almost frozen
through not being able to reach their
fCAoI40 az 4AcNuA PUN ANOduI III cAtdLl
launches, applied late at night for
= rooms. At one hotel they were put of
with the excuse that no rooms were
vacant, and at another they were told
that enlisted men in the uniform of
the service could not be accommodate
ed. Even the proprietor of a cheap
restaurant refused them admission.
In complaining of the treatment and
of similar instances, "Bluejacket" asks
the pertinent questions;
fDOes a man when ne takes the oath
and puts on his uniform become dis
frsnehised? Is ii the uniform of shame
or the uniform OF honor? Must he
forever be looked down upon by the
general public because he adopted the
profession of serving his country? I
venture TO affirm that in no other
country in the world does such a state
OF affairs exist. | maintain that there
are thousands of men in blue shirts
who are as much at home in a Fifth
avenue drawihg-room as in the fore
castle of a ship. and those who read
this, be they service men or civilians,
win bear me out in what / say"
And yet, the people who act like
snobs when a man in the uniform OF
the United States navy appears in
time Of peace, go crazy over the same
uniform in time of war. Although 80
reF cent of the men of the navy are
American born, the percentage of de-
sertions is high compared with other
natives, and Rear Admiral Wise sees
IL the un-American treatment accord
ed the men of the navy while they are
ashore, one of the prime causes for
desertion.
The intellectual status OF. the men of
the American navy is higher than in
any similar body and they are fire.
quently of good family. Why they
should be tabo0ed for their uniform is
. inexplicable. II is reflection on the
good sense of those who put this slight