The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-11
NEGROES IN NAVY
FATAL TO HIS PLAN
But for Them, Daniels Would
Have Officers and Men
Mess Together.
SCHEME is ABANDONED
Secretary Obdurate Until Pres
ence of Colored Bluejackets
Is Called to Attention.

| washington. July 1o.-A proposed
! innovation In the navy that would
have made a big dent In tho social wall
mat divides commi sSioncd officers from
inc enlisted men has been abandoned
! by secretary Daniels, OF the navy
| 1t was Mr.. Daniels who conceived
| the plan OF putting this precedent
breaking system Into effect. and he per-
sisted In his View up to the very point
| OIL issuing an order on the subject Tho
order would have been promulgated IL
was said. II Mr.. Daniels had not learn
Ell something that brought his demo-
cratic views into conflict with certain
prejudices that he had acquired through
his southern birth and residence Brief
| ~, the racial question of color inter-
vencd.
Secretary Daniels's proposal was that
commissioned officers should mess with
the enlisted men on warships Ever
since he became Secretary of tho Navy
Mr.. Daniels has shown n disposition
TO make the naval service n demo-
cratic institution, and IT was in line
with his view In this particular that
he conceived the plan of having ON.
GERS and bluejackets fraternize on
terms that are not now permitted either
by custom or regulation. In fact, no
officer may associate on n plane Of So
clal equality with enlisted men without
encountcring the danger OF trial before
military court.
Mr.. Daniels thought that this was
all wrong. To his way of thinking.
life on shpboard would be much han
pier and the bluejackets in particular
would be better satisfied IL COM
handing officer sat at the head OF each
mess table between decks with en-
listed men for messmates. and at the
same food that they did According
to the gossip In naval circles. officers
stationed at the department were
aghast when the suggestion was
brought TO their attention by the head
of the naval administration. Mr..
Daniels wanted to know what they
thought OF It, He got immediate and
pointed answers, all of which may be
summarized in the one word never"
Adm!rais and others could not regard
with complacency a Gilbertian condi :
lion such as prevailed aboard the good
ship Pinafore.
They pointed out to Secretary
Daniels that social intercourse which
messing together would mean struck
at the very heart OF the system OF
discipline necessary for officers TO
maintain among the enlisted personnel
OF the navy. Rumor had II that Mr..
Daniels was told that II the messing
Arrangement he proposed were put
into effect II would probably cause as
much dissatisfaction among the enlist
ed men as II would among the officers.
for the reason that the constant pres
ence Of an officer at an enlisted mess
would interfere with the freedom OF
conversation among themselves and
generally make them uncomfortable.
But the Secretary of the Navy was
obduratc. He directed that a memo
randum be drawn setting forth his
plan for a common messing system on
shipboard. AMI was about TO issue the
memorandum in the form Of an order
when n new angle to the situation was
pointed out u him and caused him to
change his mind.
This new view. according to what is
being said in naval circles, was pro-
vidcd in the suggestion to Mr. Daniels
that of course, the negro enlisted men
In the navy would be obliged TO take
their meals at tables presided over by
officers. Most OF the American war
shirS now have negroes for mess at
tcndants while there are a smaller
number of coiored men enlisted as sea-
men. When Mr.. Daniels was made TO
understand that the regulation he pro-
posed to put into effect could hardly
be drawn so that the negro enlisted
men should not have an officer to pre-
side ovc.' their mess table, he decided
to postpone the PRONUNCIATION Of the
otoeT' uHu II Is now generally under
stood In naval circles that il will not
see the light OF day while Mr.. Daniels
is Secretary OF the Navy.
The desire OF Mr. Daniels to make
the navy n more democratic institution
has been demonstrated In several
ways. Recently he Issued an order
that only enlisted men in the service
should be per mitted to take the ex-
animation for appointment as assis-
tant paymasters, who are commits
stoned officers.