The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-20
% varsy THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL. sr-,- .s
ANOTHER VIEW OF
ARMY DESERTIONS
FORMER PRIVATE TAKES ISSUE
WITH OFFICERS STATEMENT.
Does Not Believe Social Distinctions
Gall Privates Holds Abolition of the
Post Canteen Responsible for Much
Breaking Of Army Rules and oonse-
quent Desertions from Service.


Breaking Of Army Rules and oonse-
quent Desertions from Service.
George Kaufman, former private in
the regular army, takes issue with some
OF the statements made in T h e J T.
Smelling, on the subject Of assertions.
Mr.. kaufman was twelve years a SOL
dler, IN the infantry, cavalry and ord
nance corps, and ten years more as a
civilian employee. He says:
II do not believe that the gulf be-
tween the officer and gentleman and
soldier and enlisted man ever caused a
man to desert. No army can exist
main and is necessary to enforce dis
cipline-in fact there should be even
little more gulf between the non
commissioned officers and privates, than
there now is, for the benefit Of the serv-
ice. During my entire connection with
the army ! was always treated as
or under whom served; nevertheless,
l was carried on the muster rolls only
as soldier or enlisted man.
"This story about Private Brown and
the sergeant, who takes him outside Of
the reservation and gives him a good
thrashing and hint to skip for the
good of the army, could pass perhaps
| in the seventies or early eighties, but
small pay being the cause of desertion,
it is also a very poor excuse. Every
soldier knows what he is going to get
before he enters the army. The food
of the American soldier is also ample
and the cooking, with very few excep-
tional cases, goods, I think that but a
| TO- nf. 56o 10
caused by it. -~s
IT fully agree with the officer quot
ed, that "A company commander should
have the power to cause the discharge
of a worthless man. who will never
make soldier; he is the best judge. in
such a case Such lazy, good for
nothing, shiftless man is drawback
to company or troop; still he will not
commit himself to cause his discharge
under present regulations. How to pre-
vent such man from deserving is no
without him. The problem is, how to
prevent him from. creeping into the
"The greatest Of all causes for the
numerous assertions is to be found in
the light manner in which the oath is
considered by the average American.
Take it even in our courts; in taking
naturalization papers, marriage licenses,
etc., men step up. tell falsehood, swear
to it and think nothing Of it. Where
and when is ever, the meaning Of an
oath properly explained to person
about to take an oath9 When and
where is ever the enormity of the crime
of perjury explained to any one taking
an oatha How often does conviction
occur in our courts for the crime of
! oh fn hon. q
soldier has no idea of the solemnity Of
an oath; he raises his hand and hardly
knows that he is taking an oath; the
declaration Of enistment3is read to him,
he signs it, and he is afnll- fedged de-
fender of the stars and stripes. To this
add the indifference with which desert
s6 eaen pHnepesa
public takes mp and sympathizes with
a. deserter; they help him along, give
him employment, harbor him, admit him
to society and he has no. cause to con-
ceal the fact that he is a deserter. 81
! Abolition Of Canteen a Cause.
.atts Another great cause now, is the
exclusion Of beer apd spirits from post
exchanges, Temperance .agitators
might smile at my, .audacity in saying
sert, but such are the facts. Formerly
when beer was sold at the post ex-
change, the soldier. could at any time
go there take his glass of beer and CO.
His pay lasted in most instances from
payday to payday. Now he cannot do
so, but beer he will have. The kind,
good temperance agitators have paved
the way for many. assertions by taking
away the beer and light wines from the
|, | IA ox 6o11 e.; +ror,
ferred beer and added vile stuff COM
monty called "booze'' from the inter
Tor to the exterior of the reservation.
, They have exchanged a nice, clean
; recreation hall for vile dens Go some
night after payday to the vicinity of
any military post and see the work that
has been accomplished. To these dens
glass Of beer OF two-he loads 1p,
until his pockets are empty. The keep,
; ers Of these dens will see to it that the
) pockets get empty-and a soldier
) spends often whole months pay in
> one night. He misses call or two,
: gets back to the post and gets pun
. ished for his offense. When he gets re-
s leased from confinement he does it over
!, again, stays away again. He knows his
: result is "French leave.'' The other
: fellow, who spent all Of his pay, gets
e discouraged because he has to do with.
< out any money until next payday. He
cannot go on pass without money, anil
he follows suit and takes "French
leave.'
Watched at Post Exchange.
GIN the post exchange, when a mar
shows the least sign Of getting tipsJ
), he is refused any more drink. Should
s he get more than is good for him, h,
t is in the post, his comrades take hin
) to his quarters, and he does not mis-
|, any calls. When the time approache
s for rollcall or duty call, the exchang
steward calls attention to the fact, AM
q men leave to attend to their duties
E The. profits from the post exchange g,
g to benefit the soldiers table, suppl,
e him with extras and even small luxu
/ ries, which have beneficial effect upo1
: the men.
: To sum the whole matter up, will
: state here, and I believe every officer
chaplain and enlisted man Of severa
years service will concur in my belief