New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-29
NAVY UNIFORM Barred,
Men Not Objected To"-Secretary
MetcaIf Takes Action.

! Washington. May 2S.-Discrfminat!o-, against
the bluejacket uniform of the navy at the dane
| ing pavilion of the Pine Beach Park resort
! adjacent to the jamestown exposition. has led
! Secretary Metcalf to vigorous action. Complaint
was made TO the Navy Department by Lieuten-
ant ]. w. Babcock. commanding the United
| States ship Truxton. on May 16. The substance
| Of this report ana position taken by Secretary
Metcalf in the matter given by him in the
| following letter 10 Governor Swanson, of vir-
ginia. dated May %:
This department Is in receipt OF an unofficial
report from the commanding officer of the U. s.
5. TruxtOn. dated Pine Beach Va Nav Is 1907
with regard to d case OF dIsrespect to the ser
vice uniform |hici. has occurred during the
journ of 're hotll!a OF: Pine Beach
The commanding officer Of the TruxtOn states
that the daTCmg pavilion of Pine Beach Park
refuses admIttanCes 10 men in oluejackets' uni
forms. at the same time grants unqualified adj
mlttance 10 soldiers IN uniforgu. on receipt OF
cOInpi@.1ts from well behaved and self-Tespect-
ing men of the vessel a first class petty officer
was instructed 20 apply for atTuittanCe and II
su5h actions such direction being carried out.
=. E Lane, gunner's mate OF the first class was.
on fhe 18th Instant, refused admission 10 the
ing pavilion. the manager stating that under
no circumstances NOuld men in bluejackets uni
form be admitted that the men were not OBJ
ject-G to. but their uniform was and that If thew
wished 10 go in and dance other clothes would
be furnished them. Request was made to see
the other clothes" mentioned. and the petty
OF white clothes We're kept. very much similar
TO the regulation mess attendant uniform" On
being Informed thar the matter would DC re-
ported 70 the proper authorities. the manager
stated that the action would do no good and
would be waste of time
rms park Is advertised as being under the
management OF the Columbia Amusement COM
pany, Incorporated. W T. Crawl president
As the navy is doing everything in its power
- make tce exposition z success. Your attention
| is invited TO this insEEce o. apparent discrim-
ination against the service inform and it is be-
lieved that some action should be taken thereon
uS Ni'Iiiip'uius license or ctherWlse- II such
practices he permitted. the result will. this de-
pdriment feels assured. prove highly prejudiciaI
10 the naval service by causing the uniform OF
the navy To he looked upon with disfavor.
Commanding the matter to your earnest at
tentiOn, shall he glad to DC advised Of such ac-
ton rs YOU may deem il appropriate to take in
I the premises. it being understood of course.
that whatever is done i'm this connection TO be OF
value must be done without delay. Very
spectf's!Iy, V. r. METCALF.
Secretary.
\ copy Of this letter sent 20 President
Tucker of the Jamestown Exposition Company
by Secretary MetCaIf To which he added:
Your interest and cooperation in the taking OF
such prompt steps as may he practicable for the
correction OF discrimination against men in the
naval uniforms by any concerns over which the
authorities OF the exposition have Jurisdiction
are earnestly requested
Both Governor swanson ard Presiden, Tucker
replied To Secretary Metcalf under Date Of
-'A'' N'''Vli'' s'''S'iiS'4I SiI'l ttt ne
AZ once do everything he could DC, sonaIly and
under the law have the discrimination
stopped. President Tucker explained that the
Pine Beach Park entirely outside OF the
grounds of the exposition and that the expo
s!tion company had no authority or control over
its management Mr.. Tucker expressed hearty
sympathy with the SeCretary's position and
said he would 90 every thing he could as a citf-
zen of the commonwealth 70 prevent IisCrirlfna-
ton against the Ivy ,Ljform
The matter is now in he hands of the law Sc
D3TfnRQT N FrTa,-o
no blame on the eXpo5itio, company as the dis
CTlminatioE has occurred entirely beyond ia
jurisdiction, but he is determined TO take all
legal steps possible To prevent IFS co1tinuarce