Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-16
Names Best Muster.

Names Best Muster.
A Lowell. Mass, citizen complained
to the Courier Citizen of disgracefu
actions of the part of the State militia
at the eyolutions in and about tina
city. The writer claimed to voice gen
eral public disgust at the evening
scenes where the soldier boys wer,
s.lined up before the bars in hotels
in drunken encounters on the street
and rolling in the gutter in front o
city hail." EditoriaIly the Courier
Citizen agreed with the writer. con
f1rmed the reports of public disgust a
the performances of the militia and de
elared that such conditions were large.
iy due to laxity of officials in allowing
their men to patroniZe the saloons OF
the city to such an extent as demon
strated during the recent maneuvers.
Other Massachusetts papers have COM
rnented upon the deplorable conditions
and agree with the Courier Citizen
that something should be done TO
uplift the morals and enhance the eff
ficiency of the militia.
In sharp contrast To the condi-
lions complained of by Massachu-
sets editorial writer's, We would COM
mend the admirable conditions and be
havicr of the Maine militia. at the
muster grounds and about the city.
during the present muster. THE
best muster Maine ever had is so
frequent an exclamation that the echo
is reaching TO every corner of Maine
and creating a feeling of pride In the
homes Of the various companies, as
well as general confidence in the mill
tary arm OF course there have been
a few unpleasant and disagreeahle in
sidents- Some of the boys have been
down town al night to have a little
tim" and have gotten into trouble;
BUT such Incidents have been pleasing
" few and &C little consequence.
It % with pleasure that the kenns-
bee gsurnaL ca beiaaIE OF the general
public afSers eangraEzIat toaz aH5
Fiianiis 20 tine officials af the Maine
militia from General Dill down We
believe the present Is the hest muster
that Maine ever had We believe It
has been OF vastly more Importance
70 tle n1en, has been conducted IN
practical and highly efficient man
ner. and has, az whole, not only in
creased the knowledge OF all the boys
IN military tactics. but has been a
means Of strengthening their moral
character. In the days when musterz
were considered simply as an excuse
for prosraetsd orgies on the part Of
officers and men Gas seens to be eoa-
rinG.4d in the state Of Massachusetts.
where all have free access To opeu Sal
loons1 the benefits derived were y z
negative quantity.
We wonder how many people Of the
two Ssates-Maine and Massachusetts
will understand the reason Of tffe
great contrast between the military
gatherings at Augusta and Lowell
Ia the light OF Names great question
now being SO freely discussed. it
seems to US that the reason ought II
be evident.
Perhaps when Massachusetts ceases
to educate the appetite and morals OF
its young men down to such d stan
dard as complained of by Massachu-
sets papers. the officers of its militia
will have more care and responsible
for the conduct of their soldiers.
When the Old Bay State goes out of
partnership in the rum business "a
large number of it's militia members
will not Zine up before the hotel
bars" or roll in the gutter before city
hall"
When Massachusetts goes out of the
rum business, the drunken brawls will
be less among citizens as we'll as sol.
diers.
When Massachusetts, substitutes fot
its rum trust approved law, one ap
proved by the better element of it
citizens, young soldiers will not "rol
in the gutter before city halr' a
Lowell or any other city, and it will
be easier for Maine to enforce it
laws because Massachusetts will no
help to violate that which the peopl
of Maine approve.
Uncle Sam in Rum Business.