The Washington times., 1906-09-08
ADMIRAL AIDS
MEN OF NAVY
Legality Of Excluding En-
listed Men in Uniform
TO Be Tested.
SAILORS WELCOMED HERE
Trouble Has Arisen From Action of
Newport Amusement Association
and Similar Cases.

Newport Amusement Association
and Similar Cases.
Officials of the Navy Department are
unanimous In their approval of the ac-
ton of Rear Admiral Charles NJ, Thorn
as. superintendent of the second naval
training district, at Newport, in back
Ing up the suit OF Chief Woman Fred
J. Buenzle. against the Newport Amuse-
ment Association, claiming damages for
discrimination against the uniform OF
the United States Navy According To
reports which have reached officials
here the suit is % be entered in the
superior courts Of Rhode Island.
II is believed in Washington that this
action is meant TO be a test case on
the part Of Admiral Thomas. who has
announced that il IL is lost he viii APP
peal through the different courts, even
10 the Supreme Court OF the united
States. II necessary. 10 obtain Nerdlct
vindicating the wearing OF the badge OF
naval service in public places.
This stap is one that has been much
discussed by naval OFFICERS, puI never
before has been put 10 test. rom
am over The country complaints have
come TO the department that the naNdi
uniform like the army UNIFORM.
has been Disseminated against, even
10 the extent that the wearers nave
been barred from theaters, restaurants,
and hotels, and subjected 10 almost
brutal IidIcuie. This is one reason II
is declared, why the Bureau OF NaNlEa-
lion is having such difficulty procuring
recruits for the service
Admiral's Ire Kindled.
The discrimination has Of recent years
become particularly apparent al New
port and at Norfolk. although the re-
cent instance at Newport IS the first OF
the kind 10 occur in some time, on which
an action for damages might be based.
Admiral Thomas ire was aroused by
the report of chief Woman Buenzle.
who IS editor OF the sailors periodical
known as THE BlueJdckeJ Bunzle
stated that on August p he went 70
q public dancing pavilion maintained by
the Newport Amusement Association,
on the clins, and that Ordinary Sea-
man William WlllOughby, VINO was
with him. was denied admlJtduce 10 the
hail because ne wore his sailors uni
form. The manager stated that he ola
not object 10 the man. but such ban
had been pas on sailors by the good peO-
pie of Newport because OF their con-
duct while on shore leave, that he fear
ed the citizens would not continue 70
patrOniZe the place If they found the
United States uniform there
This was the signal for Admiral Thorn
as 10 rise I'm his wrath and he spoke out
from the shoulder In a letter 70 the
mayor of Newport The incident has
caused me pain and Indignation wrote
the admiral. and ] am 10th TO believe
the statement that citizens of Newport
object TO the society of respectable blue
jackets wearing their uniform, but do
not object 10 such association II the men
be clothed in civilian dress.
Insult Unifom-Insult Flag.
ITO credit such a statement would he
10 Insult the patriotic sentiment OF the
good citizens Of the dear old New Eng
land town. " he continues. The uniform
OF the bluejacket is a badge of honor
and not the insignia of degradation,
and ! do not hesitate 20 say that the
action of tHe manager of the Newport
Amusement Association is repreheusible.
- regret that there is not a city Ordi-
nance for the punishment of such dis
elimination against sur men ia uniform
by both fine and imprisonment. The cit
iZen who will deliberately Insult the uni
form of his country . defenders will in
suit his counTy's flag and Is utterly de-
void OF that uOhleS- OF all human sem
timents patriotism. II there is any aC-
ton that you can take 10 prevent the
repetition of such insults 10 our blue
jackets in uniform on the part Of man
ayers or public places OF amusement. l
earnestly appeal 10 YOU 10 do so.
Col William =. Clark. president OF
the ASSOCIATION. says TIE discrimination
is not against the blueiacket's uniform,
but against all uniforms including
yaChtsmen and naval officers Mayor
Cottrell has referred the matter TO the
police commission who licensed the dane
ing pavilion.
Attitude Of Washington Theaters.
The attitude Of Washington theaters
on the question Of a uniformed soldiers
privilege TO the houses is generally one
I'm favo~ of the lighting men. Each
house TO which the question was put
stated emphatically that the best IN the
house is not TOO good for a uniformed
soldier who behaves himself.
In speaking of the matter today Man
aEer LuckeTt. OF the Columbia Ihcater,
a uniformed soldier can buy any
seat I'm the Columbia Iheater II he IS
sober and well behaved j would seat
him in box OF any orchestra chair In
the house put him next 20 anybody he
pleased. III there We're vacancy In that
particular place and show MIN every
courtesy that L would TO one OF his su-
IgTiOr officers We welcome them Win
The same cOrdiality and. II possible, more
than the general public, and certainly II
"a soldier wants an orchestra or box seat
le can have IT.
Miss Winifred Dewitt, manager OF
CHase's was equally emphatic and said
that fl has always been the custom or
The house not to discriminate against the
man because he was I'm uniform She
said "a soldier was given the same con-
eIdcTauon as any other patron OF the
house and that he could at any time
buy The best available seat IN the house
Unless the man misbehaVed while In
the theater Miss Dewitt said the man
sIemeuJ would under no circumstances
take steps TO have him removed or 10
change his seat 20 another part Of the
house
When asked about his attitude in the
matter Manager La Motto, OF the MaJes-
ticl said that soldiers OF either the army
or navy are welcome 10 the best there
S. % offer and that this held good ali
tho year round The Academy manage
mrlt likewise declared a similar attitude
ON the question and 10 is safe 10 say
that when a soldier IN uniform wants
front row orchestra seat he may have
ir unless his conduct warrants other
wise.