Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-12-30

EDITORIAL ANSWERED.
To The Herald

To The Herald:
With no desire 10 enter INTO controversy
| wish To take exceptIon-rtrung exception
to the tone and wording "a your editorial
of yesterday. II l.. of course, quite clear
% All IN the military service that the writer
" tina editorial was touching on a matter
Of which he had no understanding. and
because OF that and the fact that the ar
ticle might lead others equally a~tray. |
ask you ~ give this letter space.
Referring 20 the social line drawn be-
ice. the editorial states: unfortunately
the American army i un-American in this
one respect. The officers do not mingle
with the men a. social equals, no matter
how superior rhe men may be- IN family.
education or culture. And on account Of
this practice on the part Of the officers. so
ciety draws the sam line
! think If people understood why the line
j. drawn IN the army they would neither
consider il uu-AmeTican, nor unfortunate.
nor feel obligated 10 draw the same line.
The necessity for the barrier has nothing
To do with personality, quality or any
moral or mental attribute. 1t is an ar
%tilicial barrier set up TO conserve the enG~
Of discipline. III order hat there may b.
no intimacy 10 which prejudice. partiality.
tavorItism or uniairne~s, OF The least bias
might be aScribed 10 an officer IN hi- of
fetal relations with the men under hi con-
troll for training and discipline ii j. or
damned that the only relations between en-
listed man and officer shall be official. IN
the handling NJ men for military purpose
there must ~ one rule III Sc relations Of
the officer. who j. at the same time rom
mander. administrator and instructor. and
often mentor also. III The relations were
reduced "a y personal ar social basis dis
cipline would bc impossible. Where one
man might take advantage OF such rela-
tion~ another might find grievance III the
way they are conducted. An officer who
l. responsible for the cont-ci, instruction
and administration Of 4 hundred men could
not treat them all alike socially for the
same reasons that 4 civil community can
not treat IT. members a. though their per
WIG HifA NhsNliAH@ WIN III Nllht,
Otherwise az would have factions and
%clique~. iealousieS and discussions. likes
and di~likes 10 hamper an impartial deal
ing with that hundred men in hi~ official
relations. Hence the social rotation u
eliminated for him and ne J. bound equally
only.
Now there j. nothing un- American III
that. System and method in business l.
strictly an American characteristic. and
what J. this social line in the army but 4
part ~ ~ business system. Ii l. a sacri-
flee Of personal details for official results
something hat business. and especially
American business. regards a. h practical
requirement.
The soldiers understand this, and IL
nearly fifteen wears connection with IN,
army ! have never seen q soldier who had
4 legitimate desire To pass that barrier. *
ccpt by the path open To all which lead.
INTO the commissioned ranks. | always ex-
PLAIN tins part of the system a. new r.
cruit~ that they may be- able To propcrl,
enter into it, spirit. ! take care Ia explain
the salute n n mutual mark of respect
between officer and soldier. equally inrum.
bent on both. II H. why u soldier under
going punishment IN confinement i pro-
hihIted from >aluting. because by 80 doing
~ would clam the officer salute. whcrea.
being IN disgrace h. J. not entitled IL that
mark of respect.
All these things are taught our men 1,
encourage self respect. We cndcavor Il,
show them that ~ practicing self respect