The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-06-13
WILL NOT STAND
FOR MORE DIVES
WAR DEPARTMENT MAY REDUCE
FORCE AT PREsIDfo-ooL.
WISER ANGRY.

SAN FRANCISCO. May 3i.-That
the granting by the police commission
OF licenses to saloons near the entrance
70 the Preside win involve San Fran
cisco in serious financial loss and ire.
parable loss of prestige was made plain
Yesterday by Col. ]. p Wiser, com
mander Of the post, who announced
that the reopening of these dives would
result not only in the exclusion of the
public from the Presidio, but the re-
moval Of most of the troops and the
selection of some other Coast city as
headquarters for the western division
of the army under the latest plan for
its reorganization.
Colonel Wiser announced the other
dsy that if the police commission
granted the licenses he would close the
Lombard street gates to the Preside,
close the reservation to the public and
so order the coming and going of the
troops under his command that they
would have to avoid the neighborhood
occupied by the saloons. He slept over
mis- resolution and yesterday was ready
to announce his plan of campaign.
If the licenses were granted, the
colonel said, he would recommend TO
Washington that no troops more than
necessary TO handle the Notifications
he stationed at San Francisco. Such
troops as remain would be uuartered
Mt Fort Winfield Scott. Mt the most
| &c
troops would use only the First avenue
entrance to the reservation.
Will Move Troops.
If this plan is carried into effect,
and amy officers say that it will be
if the saloon licenses are granted, the
garrison at the Preside will be reduced
from a full brigade TO rev coast ar
tillerv companies. The field artillery
batteries troops of cavalry and the
regiment of infantry now stationed at
: the Preside win be moved to some
other part of the Coast or divided
among the bay posts.
The removal of these troops will
mean halt in the extensive improve
ments being planned by the war de-
partment at the Preside. These plans
include much costly construction work,
which, if not done here, will be car
ried out elsewhere, and as the improve
ments will be of a permanent nature
the loss to San Francisco win be for
all time.
Under the plan for the reorganization
of the army the secretary of war has
selected San Francisco as the headquar-
tiers of the western division If the
saloons are opened near the Preside,
Colonel Wiser. will recommend that
some other Coast city he selected as
military headquarters. The colonel has
} not the final say in the matter, but it
is a rare occurrence in the army for
the department to ignore the recon-
mendatiOns of post commander in a
matter so vital to the discipline of the
, troops as this.
In making this city the headquarters
of the western division, it is the pur-
pose of the war department to station
enough troops at the Preside to make
it two brigade post. In other words,
the local garrison would be more than
: doubled
This is what Colonel Wiser has to
say about it:
Recommended Reduction.
of these saloons are given permits
sion to reopen at the Preside gate,
will Immediately wire to Washington
J recommendations that my present force
be reduced to the minimum and that
no more soldiers be sent here. What
action the officials there will take in
the matter is not for me to state, but
3 ] ann inclined to believe that my recon-
mendations will be fayorably acted
upon.
Several months ago, when this
saloon question arose, / sent circular
: letters to the clergy and numerous bust
, ness people, asking that they request
: the board of police commissioners not
| to grant the licenses. When the matter
was voted down by the commissioners,
! thought that the incident was closed
but minors are again in circulation that
ii is planned TO reopen the saloons.
IF these places were allowed to
open at the gate to our post, it would
/ prove detriment to the discipline OF
! 1.-The troops stationed here. and would
! serve to cause riots and other troubles
near the Preside.
For these reasons and several Others
Il asked that the licenses be refused
. If they are granted against my request
al will wire my requests to the war de.
paFtment at once"