The Washington herald., 1914-04-06
'OLD demon rum
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

warrant officers attached to the ship may
become members. upon the payment OF
mess entrance fee: but no officer shall be
required to become q member thereof
Suitable locker room for wfne-mess
stores shall be provided when fitting q
ship for sea-
No doubt" says the surgeon general.
in his communication. this paragraph
conforms to the letter OF the law, but II
may be an open question as TO how far II
fulflls these laws in spirit. As matters
stand today. an enlisted man Is, very
properly. subjected to severe disciplinary
measures II wine or beer be found in his
possession on shlpboard, yet the same
man is constantly aware OF the free use
OF alcoholic liquors on board ship which
Is officially permitted to officers, and the
too frequent derelictions which occur
among them in consequence.
The prohibition of alcohol TO the men
has rendered alcoholism among them al
most negligible quantity. Surely the Of
ficers should be in all respects models for
the enlisted men in duty. habits and de-
pertinent. and the example Of officers
drinking aboard ship. as fostered by the
hASSos aiu AHt
martial OF officers for drunkenness. and
effects OF alcohol. are destructive of dis
cipline and morale. bad for the enlisted
man. and detrimental to the reputation
and good name OF the service. The navy
is comparable in many respects TO a great
business organization. but no efficient cor
poration In civil life would tolerate such
a condition Of affairs
Naval officers have known for some
time OF the Secretary's positive views on
the matter Of the wine mess, but Il was
not dreamed that he would issue an order
SO drastic. Officers living on shore will
be prohibited from having liquors In their
private houses n they live within the con-
fines of a naval reservation. Wives Of
officers. so situated, will not be allowed
to serve punches or any form OF liquor
at their social functions
II Is understood that officers high in
the navy attempted TO prevail upon Mr.
Daniels not to sign the order and friends
OF the Secretary outside the service and
who stood high in the councils of Demo
cratic party urged him to withhold his
signature. but to no effect
Hard on Naval Hosts.
Secretary Braisted recommends a sus-
pension OF the order when battieships are
the scene OF Official entertainments Mr.
Daniels. however, made no arrangement
for a suspension Of the order. The mat
ter of official entertainment. IL is be-
lieved. will prove emba rrassing.
The practice OF opening a bottle OF wine
and drinking to the health Of their re-
spective rulers when naval officers eX-
change courtesies also is banned BY the
order
Naval officers in Washington are op-
posed violently to the order. but there
seems no relief in sight.
Naval officers in Washington know OF
no other navy in the world which has
a rule corresponding TO the one just is
sued by Secretary Daniels. In other
navies, they say. there is a store OF wine.
liquors. and cigars for occasions OF cere-
nony and hospitality which are dispensed
At the expense OF the government when
nte national or national curtesy seems
10 make such hospitality imperative.
Although Secretary Bryan and Secre-
tary Daniels have maintained an un-
policy in favor OF a dry Cabi-
net. the other members have followed
heir individual preferences and the ma
ority. so far. have leaned to the wet
iide of the question.