Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17
THE ENLISTED MEN
Disseminated Against in
Theater Seats.
UNIFORM IN REPROACH
EFFORT TO SECURE ITS PROPER
RECOGNITION.
The Secretary Of War to Cooperate
With the Secretary of the Navy
"A Case in Point.

SECRETARY Iaft and Assistant Secretary
Oliver have Joined Secretary Bonaparte in
the movement to bring about a proper
recognition Of the uniform of the enlisted
men OF the army. navy and Marine Corps,
so that 1t shall not subject the wearer to
unjust discrimination at theaters res
taurants. hotels and other places of public
entertainment. They have already secured
the cooperation of the Nicholas BiddIe
section of the Naval League of Philadel-
phia, and desire to enlist the sympathv
and encouragement of the public generally
to the end that the uniform of the coun-
try's defenders shall always be treated
with proper respect.
Secretary Bonaparte expressed b,mse,+
vigorously on this subject In his annua,
report, and recommended that Congress
enact legislation making any refusal on the
part OF the proprietor of theater or other
place of amusement, an innkeeper or a
common carrier, to furnish accommodation
to an orderly and welI-behaved person In
the naval service. able and willing to pay
for such accommodation, an offense against
the United States, punishable by fine and
Imprisonment"
Secretary is in Earnest.
That the Secretary of the NAVY I.
in earnest in the matter is shown bv
the fact that he recently dismissed an
employe at one of the navy yards because
he broke contract he had made with an
enlisted man of the navy to let portion
OF his house to the latter on the ground
that the Intended lodger expected to wear
his uniform to and from the premises
case involving the same general prin-
ciple was recently presented to the War
department by two soldiers on duty at a
post near this city They complained that
they We're refused seats in the orchestra of
a local theater. but were permitted to buy
and occupy seats in the balcony of the
same theater. They asserted that they
were perfectly respectable in behavior and
appearance, and that the only objection
made to selling them seats in the orchestra
was that they wore the uniform of the
United States army
The attitude of the War Department in
the matter IS indicated In an opinion
rendered by General Davis Judge advocate
general, which has been approved by Gem
eral oliver, assistant secretary who has
directed that the attention of the District
Commissioners be called to the general
subject.
"A theater ticket" says General Davis
rs license which may be revoked by the
licensor before, 1T has been rendered at the
door of the theater, but the purchaser of a
particular seat has more than license his
right of entrance being in the nature of a
the box Office refused to sell ticket to the
applicant because he was q soldier The
offer to sell a seat in the balcony which
accompanied the refusal to sell a seat I'm
the orchestra, would indicate that the pro-
prietor of the theater had a regulation on
the subject which his ticket seller in re-
fusing to sell orchestra seats, was attempt
ing to enforce.
Question Of Remedy.
1T seems remarkable that, IN the nation
al capital, which Is under the direct legis-
lative control of Congress, soldier or
sailor, whose employment is evidenced by
his uniform and whose behavior is beyond
reproach, should be refused admission to a
place of public entertainment solely be- |
cause he Is an enlisted man in the army or |
navy. But the question is-not of the I'm |
Justice of the exclusion, which will be con-
ceded-but Of the application of practical |
remedy AS the War Department is with !
out authority to interpose, save by way of |
It is suggested that the |
papers be transmitted to the Commissioners |
Of the District of Columbia. who have some |
over theaters and places Of |
amusement in the city of Washington, with |
a. request for such remedial action as 1t Is |
In their power to apply; failing this it is |
that the case be submitted |
to Congress- whose power in the matter is |
plenary."