Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-27
DEMAND RESPECT
FOR ARMY DRESS
LEGISLATION REGARDING USE
OF UNIFORM URGED
officers Declare Their Calling Is
Degraded Because Bell Boys,
Band Men and others lnI-
tate Soldiers Blue

Greatly mortified by what they term
the constant and hagrant degradation
of the uniforms which they wear as
protectors of the government and Of
their individual state, prominent Of
ficers Of the California militia will en-
deavor to secure a passage of a bill
through the legislature prohibiting the
wearing Of any uniform resembling
that worn by army or navy men by
bell boys transfer men or band men.
The step has been under discussion
for some time past and at last the mill
tiamen driven on by most mortifying
occurrence in Los Angeles several days
ago have decided to present the bill as
soon as possible and number of state
senators and prominent men of Cali
fornia have not only promised their
aid in the support Of such measure
but have even promised to draw the
restriction in proper form for the pre-
sentation to the Legislature.
Commander r. j. Louis Of the Naval
Militia is directly responsible for the
agitation of the new bill. A few days
ago the commander in the performance
Of his duty found it necessary to show
high official of the naval militia over
the city.
Mistaken for Band Leader
The party was walking down Spring
street when suddenly young woman,
supplied with box Of chocolates, two
photographs of prominent actors and a
half dozen packages of gum, made a
dive toward the visitor. Before he
could get away her voice came in tones
OF rarfied sweetness. 'I've seen you
so many times" she said land I've
always wanted to tell you how fine you
look when you get up there and wave
that stick and start the band"
The commandant was led away by
his attendants and the girl stood
watching after the man whom she had
supposed by his uniform to be- the
leader of a local band.
Farther down the street handful of
mire was thrown upon one of the
OihCCi OOOto anu liC Icpctil cu " IL
nearby boot blacking parlor to have his
shoes cleaned. A smart looking negro
in the uniform Of national guard was
busly applying his brush. ''Wait a
minute boss and den 1 will fix up dem
Shoes" and then noticing the uniform
the negro added, Gimme a ticket to
de next performance and de shoes is
cleaned without any Forthcoming
mazuma."
In Naval Uniform
AS the party entered hotel of the
city they found an ensign Of the navy
lounging in a corner with a number of
middies surrounding him. The officers
Strengthened to receive the salute due
them but were met only by the looks of
curiosity of bell boys, clad in the suits
of naval under officers
The officers say that time after time
this state of affairs has caused not only
confusion but extreme modification
particularly when visitors from the
army or navy arrive in the city. The
same condition exists in the copying Of
the army uniforms but not as univer-
sally as the infringement of the navy
dress because of the smart appear
ance lent by the uniforms even of the
younger officers of the navy.
Many bands Of all organizations in
California dress their members in uni
forms which are almost identical with
the dress of the army or navy regula-
tions and considerable confusion re-
suits.
In speaking yesterday of the con-
fusion of uniforms and the effort to
have it discontinued, Commander
Louis said: For some time past we
have been working to secure the pas
sage of such bill and have at last
reached a point where we find it alb
solutely necessary to force an issue. In
Massachusetts and in other states re-
striction is put upon the degradation of
the national uniform and any effort on
the part of bandmen, boot blacks and
bell boys to copy the uniform too
closely is suppressed.
Want Law Passed
"Of course we do not insist upon
stringent rules, but what we want Is
to have the legislature pass a bill pro-
hibiting the close copying of our uni
forms. With the present state of
affairs any one can secure an army or
naval suit and pass off as an officer
either of the N. G. C. or the Naval
Militia and in this way almost any in
fringment might be made by an un-
principled person and the fault laid
at the door of the state militia.
1.-The men who have joined our ranks
have done so for the love and honor of
their country and state, and stand
ready at any moment to drop their
work and go forth for the protection