Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-29
.BLUEJACkETS CAN'T
DANCE At Pine BEACH
Lieutenant BabcOck Makes Formal
Complaint 10 The Navy
Department.
INVESTIGATION NOW IN PROGRESS
Secretary Metcalf Informs Governor
Swanson and Presden. of Exposition
of Alleged Discrimination Against
Uniform and Asks That steps Be
Taken to Prevent Reoecurrence.

Complaint to the navy department
has been made by Lieutenant ]. ".
Babcock, commanding tho torpedo
boat destroyer Truxron, on account
of alleged discrimination against tho
blueiackct uniform by the manage.
ment of the Pine Beach pavilion.
Secretary Metcalf has taken the mat
TER up with Governor Swanson and
Hon. Harry st. George Tucker, presi.
dent of the jamestown Exposition
Company, and an investigation is now
IN progress.
The Pine Beach management dc.
ciares that the charge made by the
lieutenant is not warranted by tho
facts in the case. and IN answer will
BIO sent to the Governor.
Secretary Metealfs Letter.
FOLLOWING is the letter sent by Soc.
rctnry Metcalf to Governor Swanson;
IRIS department Is In receipt OF
All oiiielal report from the command.
lng OFFICER of the U. S, S. TruXton.
{ aafed Plne Beach. Va. May L 6, 1907,
I WIN gegar Ito a scase of ilisrespect lis
Sthe service uniform which Inns bccurs
red during the so.ourn OF the fiot;iln
at Pine Beach. The commantllnr or.
Ilcer OF the Truxton states that tho
dancing pavilion of Pine Beach pnrl,
refuses admittance to men In blun
Jacket uniforms, Mt the same time
granting admittance to soldiers I'm mi.
form. On receipt of complaint from
Wen behaved and sclr-respocting men.
or the vessel. firstclasa. potty off.
Ger was instructed to apply for nd.
mlttance ana IL refused To see tho
manager and ask reasons for such
actions. Such direction being carried
our, S. 10. Lane. gunners' mate of tho
tirst-ciass, was on the 18th instant re.
FUSED admission to the dancing mn.
yiifon, the manager stating that in.
aer no circumstances would mon in
blue jackets uniform be admittcJ. tim,
inc men were not objected t6 Tsit
thelr uniform was, ana that II thcy
wished to go in and dance. other
clothes would be furnished them. Re.
quest was made TO see the .otbor
clothes mentioned. and tho petty of.
flcer was shown n dressing room
where a stock of white clothes were
kent very similar to the regulation
mess attendants uniform on heinz
informed that the matter would be
reported to tho proper authorities. the
manager stated that the acton would
do no good and would be waste of
TIME.
This park is advertised MS being
under the management of che Colum
Dia Amusement Company, Incorporat,
ed. w F. Crawl. president. AS the
navy is doing everything In it's mower
to make the Exposition a success.
your attention is invited to this In
stance OF apparent discrimination
against the service uniform. and II is
believed that some action should be
taken thereon by Withholding license
or otherwise. If such acts BIO nor
mttted the result will. this department
feels assured, prove highly preiudicial
to the naval service by causing the
uniform of the navy to be looked upon
with disfayor.
Commenting the matter to your
earnest attention | shall be glad to
be advised of such action as you may
deem 1t proper TO take In the premises.
1T being understood that whatever is
done in this connection to lie of value