The Pensacola journal., 1907-05-12
TECT|NG
THE UNIFORM
Florida Instance Commend
ed by the Army and
Navy Register.
The Army and Navy Register says:

The Army and Navy Register says:
There has occurred in Florida an
incident which is worthy of special
comment as another evidence of the
growing appreciation of the necessity
Of protecting the uniform. Too much
publicity can not be given such an
occurrence and it very properly forms
the subject, in the form of officia1
correspondence exchanged, of cir
cular from che adjutant generals Of
fee at Tallahassee for the infor-
nation of all persons in the military
service of the state" That officer
was advised by 1st Lieutenant A. +.
Leslie, commanding company +, ist
infantry, of the Florida state troops,
that on March 20 in the county judges
court at Live Oak, Fla, man was
convicted of wearing part of a uni
form and insignia of rank prescribed
by the general regulations for the use
Of active militia" and sentenced TO
pay a fine of $25 or be confined in
the county iail for a period of sixty
days. Lieutenant Leslie states that the
accused man was passing through the
town and when arrested was wearing
a pair of blue trousers with the regu-
lation stripe of a commissioned 1ffi
Ger. Lieutenant Leslie placed him un-
der arrest, obtained warrant and
conducted the prosecution for the
state with the result described. This
is the first case prosecuted in that
community and has general -mcerest
as being a useful and suggestive pre-
cedenI
In acknowledgment of Lieutenant
Leslie's action. Match General j. Cliff
ford R, Foster, adjutant general Of
the state, says:
Il have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of the Goth inst.
and congratulate you upon the acton
taken in this case and the result OBJ
tailed. It is of great importance TO
everyone in the military service and
should be to every citizen as we'll
that the uniform of the United States
soldier should be preserved for the
use OF those only who are in the Mill
tary service of their country and not
be indisc.inlnately worn by. unauthor-
ized persons. The fact that it is pos
sible for anyone to buy articles of
military clothing. and that The SER
vice uniform, bearing tne stamp Of the
-quartermasters department, is COM
monty sold throughout the state as
substitute for overalls is the means
of cheapening the uniform and d:s-
crediting the military service gener-
ally in the eyes of the people. For
tunately, the Florida law provides
remedy which may be appNed by
those who are authorized to wear the
uniform and appreciate the honor of
doing so. II Is earnestly heped that
officers at all the posts in the state
and members of the regular establish
ment as well will follow the example
which you have set them in this mat
ter by causing the arrest and punish
ment of persons who violate this pro-
vision of our state law. AS soon as
it becomes generally known that the
wearing OF articles of the uniform by
civilians will subject them to arrest
and possibly 10 Imprisonment, even
though they have purchased the ar
ticles in question, both the sale and
wearing OF military clothing will be
effectually checked"
This action on the part of the adju-
tant general of the state of Florida
ought to have wholesome effect
wherever the arIpy uniform may easi
ly be brought into contempt by the
local condition. II is indeed, FORUM
ate that the florida law provides
remedy which should have. it is easy
TO imagine, a beneficial effect. The
uniform should be protected in the
same way as that other emblem of
governmental authority and integrity,
the flag. must be shielded from desc
Grafton.