The National tribune., 1910-03-24
THE UNITED STATES UNIFORM IN
THEACERS.

various parts of the country of men in
the United States Army and Navy being
refused admission to respectable places
of amusement on account of their uni
form The only mitigation of this in
dignation has been the thought that
this occurred at places in the great sea-
ports, where there might have been un-
usual conditions. Everyone is now
startled to learn of a similar occurrence
in the Capital of the United States,
where of all places on earth the uni
form of the United States should re-
ceive especial honor. The circumstances
are well set forth in the following Wig
orous protest which has been made TO
the Secretary of the Navy:
washington. D. c.. March I, 1910.
THE Honorable the Secretary of the
Navy.
sir: | desire to call your attention to
a great indignity which l witnessed
heaped upon five boys in the uniform
of their country, who, upon presenta-
tion of tickets at Chase's Thedter on
denied admission. Their tickets were
taken up by Mr. Chase's representative,
their money was refunded, and escorted
by a bicycle policeman and aforemen-
toned representative of Mr.. Chase We're
shown the door.
The first insult was offered to three
sailors to which ship attached cam
not say and the second was to two nom
commissioned officers of marines, one
nd 10 of |
private
I'm both instances the men were in
no manner Objectionable. save as to the
fact that they were in the uniform OF
their respective services; and to their
great credit, be it said, they bore their
modification with a stoicism that was
commendable.
They walked thru the lobby on their
way in to the performance as persons
anticipating pleasure, but their exit was
as that of persons caught picking pock-
cts The acts of expulsion were repre-
hensible enough, but when it. is consid-
cred that Mr.. Chase is occupying Gov
ernment land and building the act of
his representative in ejecting the boys
in blue is all the more fragrant.
AS loyal American woman ! cannot
let the incident go by unnoticed, and
as a member of Dewey Auxiliary, B,
United Spanish-American War Veter-
ans. 1 took an oath to uphold the dig
nifty of the Flag and of my country and
to aid all comrades in whatever way L
could, hence this letter.
II am informed that there are nu-
n1ereus instances where enlisted men
filed charges against theater managers,
but as they had no disinterested wit
nesSes the cases were decided against
them.
Il wish to go on record in all that I
have stated herein, and at your call L
shall give the names and addresses of
two other witnesses to the unfortunate
occurrence.
when on their worldwide tour re-
Gently the enlisted men We're feted and
flowers were strewn for them to walk
upon in the Far West, but 1t remains
for insult and indignities to be heaped
upon them here in the Capital of the
Nation.
"I am told that the men referred to
had tickets which were for the first
floor, and that-the management would
permit no enlisted men in uniform to
occupy a seat on that floor, but that
they could be accommodated on the
first and second balcony. The natural
query is: Why the uniform and its
wearers should be treated with such
contempt and insult. and why the men
are not entitled to occupy whatever
seats they pay for? Such acts SAVIOR
strongly of treason. for whatever insult
offered the uniform is certainly offered
to the Flag.
Trusting that you will take such
action as will be fitting in the premises,
and thanking you in advance for the
same, / am, respectfully yours-Cath-
crime NJ. Gallagher, Treasurer, Dewey
Auxiliary, 3, United Spanish-American
War Veterans, Washington, d. c."
1t seems incredible that this thing
the Nation, and it has aroused, as it
should, hot indignation among all our
citizens. Investigation shows that the
five men who were denied admission
were all decent, self-respecting boys,
well dressed in the uniform of their
people in the land. The only possible
objection to them was their uniform.
This was neat, well fitting and in ap-
pearance would compare favorabIy with
the clothes of the best-dressed men and
women in the theater Inquiry was at
once made whether the police regula-
tlons or the municipal laws could not
be invoked to repair the outrage, do
justice to the insulted men and uniform
and properly punish the proprietor of
the place of amusement. 1t seems that
these afford no redress, and the pro-
prietor pleads that he was acting in
obedience to the general theatrical law,
which prohibits the admission of en-
listed men in uniform to the better seats
in any place of amusement. This ex-
planation only aggravates the outrage
The United States uniform should be
welcomed and honored wherever men
and women gather together for any
purpose. The men who are in the SER
vice of their country, no matter in what
capacity, are entitled to the highest re-
spect for their devotion 10 public inter-
ests and for their conservation of their
youth, their strength and their lives to
the great works which we all want to
see properly performed. We honor
them for their bravery and forttude in
meeting whatever may come to an
American soldier or sailor, and we can
show them this honor in no better way
than by gladly accepting them as COM
panions in all that the rest of us do and
enjoy No matter what rules and regu-
lations these purveyors of public amuse-
ments may make for themselves, it is
Irritating that these should stand in the
way of the great public sentiment of