Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-31

IuSIl AlleH,
lieut. In Charge L. S. Navy.
Recruiting Office.
'ortland. Nc.
Dear Sir:
7 have delayed IN answering your
ind inquiry of my three sons who en-
listed in the Navy n little over a year
so, in order that | might so aboard
heir ships again and make few more
observations of their general routine
nd environment in order to justify
1yself las an outsider) i'll speaking not
My for my own boys but for many OF
he others and also that l might secure
ION them statements Of their own for
notation.
You ask "Hcw they like it They
ave made literally these replies
Well dad. I'm in TO stay. I like IL"
All right. I've no kick coming" And.
i like it and am going TO stick till I'm
officer and THEN stick"
Many others I have had at my home
day or two at time and have met
hem on the trains and in public places.
have never lost an opportunity to
raw from them their opinions OF the
>ary. ] was greatly impressed with
aid. 1.-The Navy is like an apple. and
hat he liked it all but the core and II
here was any work or position that
ad no core he would like to
now what it was asked him
shat the core part Of the Navy was
nd he said. oh well. what would he
he core TO me might taste good To an
ther It's up TO the man. and just
that YOU make it, and the better you
~ To behave, the less core Won will
nd" 7 am that boys senior by
twenty-five years hut | learned a los
on in philosophy that | shall never
CrSet.
When and where ever opportunity
emitted / have talked with the en-
listed men. Now and then some one
could say he didn't care for the Navy
. such . boy I would always say.
Now. son. Just why don't YOU like IL
ell me just why. I am interested in
he Navy and would like to know"
md in every case I have found he had
well defined reason for dislilsing the
,avy. Some have admitted they
yere wishing to get into y munitiGn
actory. In others they had been un
BILE to regulate their lives To discipline
nd the authority of their superiors
his nature showed itself plainly In
heir conversations vet they were actu-
lly unconscious of il.
The vast majority would saw AN
light, Sir" Many wer, proud Of their
atincs and progress Some complained
f the public attitude toward their un-
forms. and one boy said he knew one
mployed men who would he kicked
Ut Of the Navy in thirty days after
nlistment.
I have been asked by friend ~
bought the Navy was really fit place
or his son-To any father or mother
Tho has that question in mind. let mo
1ake this answer.-Investisate the
>avy: for depe nd upon il. the Navy IL
ding to investigate your son They
re not going to take your word, fond
aren't. for its ten to one your next
DOR neishbor knows your sons habits
etter than you do. There are two
ides of this Fit place" argument-and
fter the recruiting officer has said
our son is fit" for the Navy. YOU can
afelv assume that the Navy is at"
or YOUR son. For all this he may fall
own and still be good boy. and right
ere take issue with many for man
as no more light to condemn the
aNy because of the inaptitude Of some
oy. thar I have to condemn Harvard
'olleCe if one of my sons found him
elf unable to make good in that
chool.
had six enlisted men AZ my home
Yer Christmas. and I doubt il any
IAN in Maine had more interesting
'hristmas than I did. They were tho
appiest. healtEiest, hungriest lot Of
Dung philosophers 7 ever saw, and II
live until next Christmas. I am 60
rg to lay plans for twelve instead
six. The only thing that saddened
nv heart was to think OF the hundreds
ack on the ships who had no homes
go to, who were gritting their teeth
ike men and wishing. as only n boy
an, that he too could go home.
bought, too, of the happy homes with
n five cent car fare Of their ships, who
ould just as well have sent an invita-
ion to one or more of these and made
hat Christmas more interesting and
Apply for both
Our business men should realize thar
he Navy is q vast university that Is
OF only developing and training thous-
pds Of young men for good positions
n life but it Is today and always mus;
@ the great underwater of our invest
d capital-our bones and our institu-
ions.
| would not ask any boy TO leave
chool for the Navy for the more
chooling boy takes into the Navy
he better for beth. and vet there is no
lace where n natural ability unframed
Y schooling is so quickly regarded.
nd here advancement and rating come
v ability and conduct. to take the
lace of diplomas. the latter having
cry doubtful cash value while Naval
a.tings have a fixed value, extending
S high as $1,000 year.
My words for the Navy are neither
sized for by the men nor paid for by
he government. they come only from
sense Of duty to class OF men who
eServe it..
FRANK Z. TAFT.