Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-21
NAVAL RECRUITS EXPOSED
TO IMMORAL CONDITIONS
Secretary Daniels Calls Attention OF
Surroundings at Newport to
Rhode Island Governor.
MUST SAFEGUARD YOUNG MEN
Declares if Government Fails in Wig
lance, Mothers and Fathers OF
These Lads Will Rightly Hold 1t
Responsible.
IBy Associated PrcssJ


WASIIINc;TON. June 2O.-Scnsational
charges that naval recruits at the New =
port. X. l.. training station are eX-
posed to open gambling houses. i'm
moral resorts and illegal sales of
liquor were mad" by Secretary Daniels
to-day in announcing that he had APP
pcaicd TO Governor Becckman.
In response TO Il preliminary com :
plant, the Mayor Of Newport made a
genera! denial, and declared there was
no upuSua! degree Of immortality in the
fashionable city. The Navy Depart
mont. with tho assistance of agents OF
the Department of Justice. thereupon
r:ads scparat" Investigation, and as
a result, Secretary Daniels has re-
newcd his complaint TO tho Governor.
Secretary Daniels to-day, in an
nounc!ng his action. said:
II have just sent to the Governor
of Rhode Island a list in detail of
some Of tho most notorious houses of
prostitution and open gambling houses
in Newport, also calling his attention
to the extent and methods Of illegal
sale OF liquor to sailors and naval re-
serve recruits, and informing him that
the depa rtncnt is ready TO furnish him
with further specific evidence If the
AT Newport and other places are
gathered several thousand of the
finest youths of the land, who have
offered their lives for the service Of
their country at a time when this sac
rificc is no figure OF speech. Most of
them have come from carefully guarded
homes. and their parents have given
them to their country in sacred trust
that tho government will safeguard
them from unnecessary perils.
MUST SEE THAT LAWS
ARE SAFELY EXECUTED
81 am charged with the duty of
training these young men for service
in the navy. state and local officers
arc charged with the duty Of seeing
that the laws Of their states and of
the United States are safely executed.
There lies upon US morally to de-
gree far outreaching any technical re-
sponsibility tho duty of leaving moth
ing un1one to protect these young men
from that contamination Of their bodies
which viii not only impair their mill
tary efficiency. but blast their lives
for the future. and return them to
their homes source of danger to
their families and to the community
at large.
Those dangers are bad enough in
ordinary times; in time of war, WI len
great bodies OF men are necessarily
gathered together away from the re-
straints OF home. and under the stress
or emotion whose reactions inevita bly,
tend to dislodge the standards of nor
| nal life, they are multiplied manifold
and the harpics of the underworld
flock TO make profit out Of the oppor-
tunity. If We fail in vigilance under
these conditions. the mothers and
fathers of these lads. the country gen
orally. VIII rightly hold us responsible
II feel confident that the Governor
or Rhode Island and the local officers
responsible to him. and the civil au-
thoritics at other places where the
navy has gathered large numbers OF
men enlisted for service, will appre.
ciate the Vital Importance of this mat
| ter, and will take such steps as will
make unnecessary any further steps
by the government OF the United
states. 1 am determined that. SO far
as This department is concerned, moth.
| ing shall be left undonc that is pos
siolc to discharge the duty of pro-
tect'rS these lads who have been com
mittcd to our care"