The Pensacola journal., 1917-07-10
Movement for Regulation or
Abolition of Restricted
District Is Launched.
ARMY AND NAVY
MUCH INTERESTED
Jas. H. Foster Discusses the
Question and Points Out
the Attendant Evils.

Great interest is being taken by
army and navy officers at the reser-
vations here in the movement for
abolition or regulation of the restrict
ed district, and in an effort to mini
mize the evil a number of prominent
citizens met IN the council chamber
OF the city hall yesterday morning to
near James H. Foster, of the Ameri-
can Social Hygiene Association, dis
cuss the problem from an army and
navy standpoint, and its effect on
the enlisted men.
The meeting was called to order bv
Secretary Jennings, of the Y. NJ. c.
A, who briefly outlined the reasons
for calling the meeting. He intro
duced Mr.. Foster, who explained the
interest the association had in the
matter and showed how it was work
ing in cooperation with the depart
ment heads in bettering the condi-
tlons of life near camps where men
are being trained.
He stated that as both the secre-
tary of navy and the secretary of war
had expressed disapproval of the ex-
istence of segregated districts and
the permission of legalized vice near
recruiting camps, the problem con-
fronting Pensacola resolves itself
into a business proposition, regard
less of the moral or social questions
involved. 1t means simply, according
to Mr.. Faster, that unless conditions
| near camps are in conformity with
the standards the department lay
down, the camps will be moved, and
| the question for Pensacola to decide
is whether or not the camps or the
district is the more valuable.
To prove this contention, Mr.. Fos-
! ter cited the experiences of other
| cities, where camps had been moved
because the local authorities refused
| tc close the districts.
He then discussed the political as
| pect of the situation and said the
! districts not only breeds vice and dis
ease. but usually breeds political cor
ruption, for the houses are operated
in open violation of city and state
| laws.
Periodically, he said, to close the
district would be Pensacola's bit, and
would show the city's appreciation Of
the necessity of keeping the MEM
bers of the military forces in best
possible condition.
eff Pensacola does not close the
district" said Mr.. Foster. zone of
two things will happen, either some
outside agency, state or federal yNll
clean up the district, or the military
establishments here viii be dfscon-
tinued."
Commissioner Frank Sanders, who
as commissioner of fire and police,
has supervision over the enforcement
of the regulations of the district, at
tended the meeting and at the close
of Mr.. Fosters address, was called
upon for q statement
He said that if the citizens Of Pen
sacola want the district closed up,
it can be done, and he will do it. After
| his short statement Of his position,
the commissioner on various phases
of the matter.
w. S. Garfield offered as a substi-
| tute that the matter be referred TO
/ the Law Enforcement League, and
| that the president Of the league be
asked call a meeting at ten o'clock
| Tuesday to consider the matter
/ further
AS an amendment 70 ire SuOsJlJule
| or second substitute, Rev. John H.
Brown moved that no motion be made
| but that the matter be left informally
with the commissioners. Mr.. Garfield
withdrew his motion. Mr.. Browns mo-
! ton was defeated, while that of Mr.
| Jones was adopted
The following committee wass ap'
pointed to advise the Law Enforce
ment League Of the action taken;
Mr.. Jennings, Mr.. Jones, Captain
Aiken, Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Allison
Yesterday afteroon the executive
| committee of the Law Enforcement
League held a meeting and after .
| short open session went into executive
session. It is learned that plans ar'
being made for working out co
operative police system composed OF
| federal, city and county forces tc
stop the sale Of liquor, which is be
| lieved to be one of the contributing
causes of the recent troubles. NJ
definite plan was made, but another
meeting is called for Wednesday
when Captain Jayne, commandant a
the navy yard, and Major Hughes
commanding, c. ,. c., Fort Barran
| cas-, will be invited to attend tn