New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-16
UNHAPPY SAILORS
Why Don't Respectable Americans
Treat Them as Equalsl
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: 1t seems that there is difficulty
in enlisting the number Of desirable
men now needed for the ships OF our
navy. May this not be in part due to
the disesteem too frequently melted out
20 sailors" when in our port cities!
For the selection Of the enlisted per-
sonnet Of the navy We have fixed q
high standard. The men who, at the
time OF enlistment, have been found up
10 this standard were worthy OF the
country whose citizens they are. Yet,
after entering the direct service OF the
United States, they learn that the
standing that had been theirs pre-
viously is no longer theirs as common
sailors" in the coast cities, whose
streets they are kindly permitted to
walk. Unhappy incidents disclose to
them that, In their new status, those
who are willing to meet them and to
associate with them are, In majority
Of cases, those who have designs upon
their pay. Those who cater to their
trade with an eye TO exorbitant prott
saloonkeepers, saloon hangers-on, girls
of the Stretches are the Americans
who are willing to acknowledge them
as equals; these are the people, and the
only people, who, as a class, are eager
for their acquaintance. Upon his ar
rival in port. the bluejacket is a
stranger to all; so long as he remains
in port, to all but the undesirables a
stranger he will remain; but this is
through no choice of his.
Have our "men-o'-warsmen" as we
dignity them in our recruiting litera-
ture only no special claim on us that
we feel entitled TO consider them as
strangers and to hold ourselves aloof
from them7 The government pays
them; does that fact cancel the ma
tion's obligation TO them! Can courage,
heroism, the hazsrding or resignation
OF life, be paid for! Can even the in
evitable but abnormal segregation
while afoat Of persons Of one sex, age
and occupation be compensated with
money! Can tho loss, throughout long
periods, Of civic, social and domestic
life be made up in dollars7 In con-
trbuting their share to the defence
OF their country, as our blue
themselves, with a patriotism that Is
truly above price. realize, they are but
acquitting themselves OF a duty. But
are the country and the duty exclusive
ly theirs7 Or must we own that we
look to them 10 perform our perilous
and imperative task as we'll as their
own?
For defending our country. In our
place and stead. do we owe our blue
jackets nothing? Does not our in
debtedness to them exceed our ability
to give? While they remain in
the navy we cannot restore 10
them those responsibilities which
would have contributed to the de-
velopment and happiness of that dem
ocratic citizenship which is as in
while they remain In the navy we
cannot give them back fixed resi-
dence. We can supply them with no
equivalent for that distant family cir
Gle, Of which insidious absence and sep
arating experiences are making them
hand-we could. wers our conscience
awake-givs them some normal social
life In exchange for that which they
forfeited in order TO join the navy. In
many instances it would be Sossible 10
give them moro friendliness, better
companionship. greater variety OF so
cal contacts than they have known be
fore. Incidentally. by afording men OF
the navy broadened social experience
in parts OF the country new to them
we could Justify. to some extent, the
Seeing the world" lure Of our recruit
ing methods. But we do not choose 70
do what NO could for our defenders
To US, sailors are strangers
SARAH r. SEWARD.
Brooklyn. Oct IA. 1915.