New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-10
Had Planned to Abolish "MesS''
and Compel Officers to Eat
with Enlisted Men.
NEGRO STUMBLING BLOCK
Secretary's Anxiety to Accom-
plish Things" Causes Much
Unrest Among the
Personnel.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, July 9.-In furtherance
of his determination ito bridge the So
cial gulf between the commissioned
officers and the enlisted men," the Sec
rotary Of the Navy has been seriously
contemplating the abolition Of all
"messes" on board ship and the re-
quircment that all officers of whatever
rank and all the men, from petty OFF,
GERS to stokers and coalpassers eat at
the same tabl, and partake of the
same food.
This step would, in the opinion Of
Secretary Daniels, go far to bridge
the gulf" and would tend to create
chumminess between the admiral and
the coalpasser. the skipper and the
buejacket, and make of the compile
ment Of each battleship one big, har-
monious and intimate family.
In his minds eye the democratic Sec
rotary Of the Navy percoives the day
when the unembarrassed jackie will
nudge the admiral Of the feet in the
fifth rib and exclaim: Say, Gully, give
US a chaw of your plug" while the
admiral in recognition Of this friendly
condescension will toast Mrs. Jenkins
and the little Jenkinses in the favorite
grog Of the modern sailorman-un-
diluted grape juice.
Bryan Favored the Plan.
So enamoured did the Honorable 10
sephus become OF his wholly original
and sweetly democratic IDEA, in which
he Is understood TO enjoy the cordial
support of his personal friend and po-
litical mentor. William Jennings Bryan.
that he caused the draft Of the order
abolishing messes and prescribing the
method In which the admiral, the cap
tain and other officers should seat
themselves among the jackies and
marines to be prepared. and was about
to promulgate II when an adroit ap-
peal 10 the North Carolinan's distaste
for the negro led him to pause, al
though he is understood not yet wholly
10 have abandoned the idea.
In vain did officers in the Navy De-
partmcnt, including the new chief Of
navigation. Admiral Victor Blue. pro-
test 10 the Secretary that such course
would not make for happiness or con-
tentment among the enlisted men: that
the presence Of commissioned officers
at their table would impose on them a
nf
embarrassment and annoyance, and de-
priye them OF a large share Of. the
comparatively little privacy they now
enjoy.
In vain did they assure the North
Carolina statesman that the fare Of the
enlisted man, although costing less
than the officers provide for them
selves. is Of equally good quality and
differs only in that II is better suited
to the tastes and desires Of the men,
and that II compromise between the
desires Of the officers and the men were
required the men would be far less sat
isied.
Finally, however. Admiral Blue, who
Is an accomplished diplomat as well as
naval officer. hit on an appeal which,
for the time being at least. proved I'll
sufficient.
MIR. Secretary, as n SoutherA gentle
man. would yon he willing L sit at
table with a 'nigger'?" inquired the
chief OF navigation.
Unwilling TO Eat with "Nisser."
mo, sir. Under no circumstances
would I sit at table with a niger "
was the emphatic response.
"Mr Secretary. do you realize that
large number OF our enlisted men are
, negroes, and that by your order You
would not only be requiring the COM
missioned officers OF the navy to sit al
table with them. but you would be put
ting yourself i'm a position where you
could not logically refuse TO do the
same whenever you ate on board ship?'
pursued Admiral Blue.
That proved effective for the time
being. and the order abolishing all
messes OF. board ship is held in abey-
ance.
officers who have been consulted re-
garding Mr.. Daniels's plan for "bridg-
ing the social gulf insist that it would
not make for the greater contentment
OF the men and that they would regard
il as IN insufferable nuisance to have
officers present at their meals. The
officers maintain, moreover that the
chumminess for which Mr.. Daniels