The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-26

The writer was recently in COM
pany of men Of over fifty years or
age all with sons OF good character,
and every man of the number said
he would prefer to enlist and go to
the military camp for training and
fighting rather than TO subject his
sons to the surroundings and lnnu-
ences which have been wont 10 exist
in such camps in the past. The worst
thing about the war is not the fight
ing on the vessels or in the trenches
for righteous cause. That is the
glorious thing in connection with the
war The worst thing about the war
IS the evil Of the camp life.
Write Promptly.
Lot every parent write promptly 10
the president and TO the senat tors, ana
to the congressman from his district
and demand protection fer the camps
from the saloon and the scarlet Wo-
man.
The following article is taken from
Social Hygiene" and was written by
DR.. NJ. J. Exner after a visit TO tho
army on the Mexican border and II
accords with what the writer has
heard from other sources.
l. 6. JR.
DIR. Exncr's Article.
NJ J, Exner. NJ, u. writing in
Social Hygiene" of conditions in the
American army on the Mexican bord-
er, says
"A factor which greatly enhances
the moral strain upon the soldier is
the process of leveling down to the
lower element to which there is a
powerful tendency IN the military
camp or wherever heterogeneous
body of men is gathered together
TN,sN
macy IN the tent or mess hail, 1t is,
rs rule. the coarser element that
creates the atmosphere of the group.
They take supreme delight in retail
ing their obscene stories and giving
expression to the foul imagery of
their minds in vulgar talk or jest.
When We face the fact that a $ yet.
for most young men these obscene
conversations with their fellows are
about their only source Of ready in
formation on matters of love and sex,
questions in which they have deep.
instructive interest and which they
are burning to have interpreted, we
can better appreciate the sensualiz-
ing, distorting effort Of such an at
mosphere. Those OF rs who know
fully the degrading atmosphere that
prevails in promiscuous male groups.
such as are found in the average
military camp. can but have "A pro-
found admiration for that small pro-
portion of men who arc able to live
in il day after day and month after
month and successfully resist being
rawn into lives of immortality. The
terrific dovn-pull of the military
camp. as of all similar male group
life. can easily be exaggerated.
Loneliness also contributes to the
cause OF immortality in the soldier.
Nothing on the border impressed me
more forcefully than the loneliness
in-the-crown OF many of the soldiers.
have seen hundreds OF them walk
Ing the streets Of border towns al
night, with the restlessness and gnaw-
ing OF loneliness expressed in face and
manner. Many have told me that
they visited immoral houses. not be-
cause of any strong craving for i'm
moral relations, but because of their
desire for sympathetic panionship
with the opposite sex, which desire is
strengthened by absence from home.
The Influences which we have en-
umerated which tend TO weaken the
moral resistance OF the soldier. call for
thorough moral sanitation in tho en-
vironments, SO that the soldier may
be given a fair chance to keep his
moral balance
Community p is one of the large
cities of the Southwest, in the vicinity
of which. at tho time of my visit. over
10000 troops were stationed. Here
prostitution was carried on very ex-
tensively without restriction beyond
usual regulation Not only was the
old notorious segregated district in
fun operation but an extensive new
crib system had been built in an
other part of the city. In but very
few cities in this country can anything
so had he found. From noon until
early morning, soldiers in great num-
bers were found an these districts. In
the evening they were thronged. and
before many of the crib doors SOL
diers stood in line.
Camp | was large camp, located
near two small towns. Here. also,
prostitution and saloons sought to es-
tablish themselves But the com
mander suppressed both absolutely
with an iron hand and never relaxed
his vigilance. AS fast as any sources
OF prostitution or of the sale of in
toxicants could he located. he got rid
of them, assuming the authority to
do 40 when he did not technically
possess u. ON tho ground of military
efiiCiency Prostitution was practical
ly inaccessible to this large contingent
VI u 'bp7t thtFHN as ~ lew H'ci Aiiiei't
secure leave TO visit larger centers
many miles away. An example of the
commanders methods may be OF in
terest:
"A saloonkeeper opened a saloon
near the camp. The commander told
him he could not sell booze to his
men. and advised him to move on.
The saloonkceer replied. Il have my
license Won cannot stop me. The
could not sell liquor to his men, and
again advised him to leave. The sd
loonkeepcr answered. I'M show you.
The commander issued an order that
no soldier should visit the place. ana
stationed a guard before the door TO
enforce the order The saloonkeeper
remained a week, after which he de-
parted, not being able to do any bust
ness. At no other point were vice and
drink SO consistently and thoroughly
suppressed.
Now. it viii he Of interest to in
auire what has been the reaction OF
these repressive measures on the men
in this command According TO the
arguments OF many officers in sup
nort of prostitution we should expect
extreme discomfort, clamoring for
prostitution facilities, revolt. mutiny.
The facts are that no more contented.
more orderly, better disciplined. bet
ter trained, more efficient, or more
loyal body nt troops could be found
anywhere on the border. These facts
l.