Bisbee daily review., 1917-05-08
Communication

Dear Editor:-
 If you will allow me a little space in your valuable poper l would like to tell your good people what l am trying to do for "our boys" as chap lain of the First Arizona Infantry.
 No doubt there are but few people who really know the relation of a chaplain to his regiment. Consequent ly, he does not have the cooperation of the people which makes it impos- sible for him to do his best work. Briefly, the duty of a chaplain is to hold religious services on Sunday, visit the sick, bury the dead, and make a report each month to the war department of the births, deaths, bap' tisms and marriages.
 But no man, if he is a hustler and really interested in the welfare of the men, can be satisfied with the mere performance of the above prescribed duties. He is ever on the alert and ready to help the boys out of their difficulties. In fact, he is the one of ficer of the regiment who may be best approached by the men at all times and under all circumstances, with the assurance that they will receive all the sympathy and help which theh particular case may merit.
 And then you have to be on the lookout for the boy who has the wrong conception of what it takes to make a good soldier So many get the idea that in order to be a good soldier one must be tough; must drink, gamble, swear, etc. There never was a greater mistake. As a rule our boys are morally clean, but, of course, a tough will slip in occasionally anc make his influence feltsfor while but few months of military discipline usually works wonders in him.
 A great many people think the army is detrimental to young mans char acter. I can, honestly, say that if l had a dozen sons I would urge them to take military training. Of course, he is exposed ro many evils, but if he has been properly trained in the home he will not yield to them any quicker than he would in civilian life. In fact | the only way to develop character is by coming in contact with evil and overcoming it.. The principle must be taught and developed in childhood but if boy has not had this training in the home, then military discipline will be of great benefit to him.
 Military training is not all. These boys must have clean, wholesome re creation and a place where they can read, write, play games, etc, and l am glad to say that we have such a place in our camp. The hall was built last July and dedicated to the men of the 1st Arizona Infantry. anc for the past nine months it has been in use day and night. It is well seated and lighted and equipped with games, books, stationery, Victrolas, etc; also stage for amateur plays, a postof- flee, conteen, barber shop and laundry.
 Last July when I contemplated this building for the boys found that the government did not furnish anything of the kind in the field. Therefore l was up against it for funds, 50 took the matter up with the chambers of commerce over the state of Arizona, but to my great surprise did not re ceive a single cent from any of them.
 Of course I naturally felt that Ari- zona was not interested in the wei fare of her regiment, but after think ing the matter over I finally gave her the benefit of the doubt by concluding that spe just didn't understand the