The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-05-10
RECRUITING
METHODS TO
Be REVISED
Mai. Phelps Says Com
plants, If True, Are
Justified
WANTS POLICE
TO TAKE A HAND
City Hall Tent Is Not
Under Control of
the Army

Backing Mayor Marx in his
criticism of the recruiting methods
employed by the Patriots OF 1917 at
the city hall recruiting tent. Major
+. f. Phelps. who has charge OF en-.
listing men for the army In the De
troit district said Thursday tina, the
practice Of calling men towards and
using improper and indecent Ian
ruage 10 encourage enlistments was
entirely out OF place
ITS all wrong, said the major.
speaking Of tho complaints that had
come TO the MAYORS ONCE concern
ing drunken men being permitted
10 take the platform 10 address the
crowd in front OF the recruiting tent.
rhe major called az the mayors
once az $3.50 o'clock. but the mayor
had not yet returned from Lansing
George r CASTOR. past command.
er of the Spanish-American war vet
Grams. was the first person he major
encountered in the city executives
nice.
No one is more anxious than
am to stimulate recruiting said Mr.
Castor 70 Major Phelps but
recruiting should be done un-
der proper and decent coudi
lions Some OF the things hat
nave happened in front Of the city
hail In the last few days are moth
ing less than disgrace 10 the city.
and how does anyone expect good
clean cut men 10 be enlisted when
they are called towards and names
much worse h, drunken mon IN sol.
diers' uniforms During tho last few
Gays ! have witnessed many dis
graceful scenes from No windows
~ the mayors one. and PERSONAL,
made complaint 10 him concerning
some Of the things that were taking
place in front Of tho recruiting
ont"
let the police arrest the first
drunken man who causes trouble in
front OF the recruiting tent. and aft.
90 two or three such arrests here
VIII 10" no further trouble Solid Tho
major n reply Your complaint i-
really the first concrete one bar
has been maze Go mo personally. a.
mo Nfs Galrt said omrihue sey
fral days ago about 1ruHksu man
interfering with the recufing
The tent N front Of The City hall
Is cAurely out OF my jurisdiction.
The ihen in uniform about tho re-
crutns tent are not in my charge.
* every one OF the 10 men have
in Detroit arc used in my Office
81 agree with YOU that tho meth.
od- OF recruiting should be changed,
II all tho reports that have come 10
the mayor are based on fact
The major said that tho men in
Uniform seen regularly around the
recruiting station are militiamen.
most OF them from the Thirty first
and Thirtythird infantry II was
suggested 20 the major that the
army should place a commissioned
officer or someone with authority al
The ten to take charge of the en-
liHments. as The ciy hall station
now is -ending on an average OF
Zoo recruits q 9sy 10 army head
quarters. about So OF which arc nc
ccptcd daily
one complaint TO The MAYOR told
81 man IN uniform dragging a nag
around in the mud in fun view OF q
crowd Of spectator with only one
or two raising their voices in pro
test.
Major Phelps SAYS however. that
the recruits which have been sent
10 him from The tent are OF very
high quality and that fully so per
cent Of them are acceptable he
i'lso says that about so per cent o.
all The. recruits he Is getting are rec.
lmmcndcd by those in The tent