The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-04-27
SAYS NEARLY ALL minors"
Commandant Insists He Will Vigorously
Prosecute Any Saloon Man Who Sells
Liquor to Minor In Kenosha or Else
where-Says Make Uniform Bar.


Commander w. A. Moffett, COM
mander in the United States navy and
commandant in charge of the naval
training school at Lake Bluff has lifted
a burden from the shoulders of the sa-
loon men of Kenosha as he has issued
an ultimatum in regard to apprentice
seamen of the navy frequenting saloons
in Kenosha. Some time ago when it
was announced that Waukegan had gone
dry the saloon men of Kenosha began
to look with a good deal of concern on
the possibility of Kenosha becoming
the rendezvous of the "White Caps ,,
as the men from the station are dubbed
among the saloon men. The local Liquor
Dealers Association went on record as
being opposed to the sale of liquor to
these men under any conditions bat
some Of the men raised the question as
to whether or not the saloon men of
Kenosha would lay themselves liable to
suits for discrimination if they refused
to serve men in the uniform of the
United States navy. Commander Mof-
felt has removed all doubt as to the
rights of the saloon men and in addition
to this has laid down clearly the desires
of himself as commandant at the school.
In letter addressed to the Evening
News he says:
"My attention has been called to a
quotation from the Kenosha News. It
appears from this article that the saloon
keepers of Kenosha are debating
whether or not they will allow appren-
tice seamen and other men in the naval
uniform 10 patronize the saloons in Ke
nosha, the question having arisen
whether or not the law will be violated
in refusing to serve men of the navy.
1t is not my intention to interfere in
any way with the business of my neigh
bors, but in my duty in connection
with the training of the recruits at this
station for the defense of their country
I feel that it is necessary to protect
these young men, especially at their for
native age, from acquiring the habit of
drinking or entering saloons, and all
men attached to this station are for
hidden to enter saloon in uniform.
The great majority of the men under
training at this station are minors, and
therefore it is illegal to sell them liquor.
Any saloonkeeper who sells liquor to
the apprentice seamen in uniform takes
chance in violating this law, and it is
my intention to aid in every way the
prosecution of anyone who sells liquor
to minors. It will therefore be my adj
vice to the saloonkeepers Of Kenosha,
or elsewhere, not to sell liquor to any
man in uniform, not as discrimination
against the uniform, but to be sure that
he is not violating the law. -
Copies of this letter have been placed
in the hands of the police department
for their guidance in dealing with all
questions relating to the recruits and
there is no longer any question as to
what shall be done by saloon men of
Kenosha. Tt is declared that most of
the saloon men will welcome the com
ing Of this official statement from the
commandant. The dry rule goes into
effect at Waukegan a week from to-
day and if the recruits from the station
seek to transfer any activities they
may have had heretofore in The sa-
looms at Waukegan to Kenosha the To-
cal dealers will have no question as to
how they are to handle the matter.
Commander Moffett is known to be a
man who follows up his orders with a
lot of vigor and it is certain that if
the "White Caps' are allowed to drink
in Kenosha saloons that there will be
prompt and vigorous prosecutions.