Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-13
What Are You Going To Do About II!

Lest the loya citizens of the United States WHINE
the city Of Honolulu forget their duty to their couh
try in th, time Of letter ISSUED by the sec
rotary of war is again given publicity
\ great MANY people in Honolulu and Hawai-
are willing 10 send all their wife's relatives to thu
war, but when il comes to fighting evil and helping
in their own town to win the war. they resort Il
every subterfuge and excuse. They want 10 &c
around IT, They wish the problem did not exist
They counsel surrender. They talk Of the folly Of
irving 10 do ANYTHING. They say that the evil mus
I've tolerated in order to be des trOyed They do any
thing and everything. but meet the issue fairly and
sauarply fighting like fighting as the boys al
the front are fighting with no other thought thaf
a victory for what is decent and right.
Secretary of War Baker has positive opinions OF
what the people of city adjoining military camp
should do toward keeping that town clean
Secretary Baker speaks for the commander IL
chief of the army of the United States. Your army
and ours He points out plainly the duty of the elvl
liam population and administration in helping tc
win this war.
What the secretary of war says of the new can
tonments applies with the same force to every mill
tary post of the United States.
1t is direct message to the loyal American citl
zens of Honolulu. Read it:
War Department, w aSLlIStOu, Aug L. lJI y
NV Dear Sir: In anticipation of the military
training camp soon to be opened in your nelghDor
hood / am sending herewith a copy of the regula
tons recently issued the question of the suppress
sion of prostitution and the sale of alcohol to sol
diers in uniform within given radius of military
posts and camps These regulations, which arc
based on sections - and Ii of the recent army law
do not believe need comment and | am confident
that their enforcement will help create wholesome
environment about the military camps. There are
one or two matters however, in connection with the
enforcement of the regulations to which L would
like to call your attention In the first place, the
purpose of these regulations is to put into effect sec
tions II and 13 of the army law recently passed, SO
that the army itself can cooperate with the local
authorities, if necessary, in their enforcement The
regulations do not in any way lessen the necessity
for police vigilance on the part of local authorities
The presence of large bodies of troops rather in
creases the responsibility of those whose duty it is
to preserve local order, and confident that the
war department cab rely on you to the utmost to
see that the regulations are rgidly enforced.
In the second place, while we have fixed 5-mile
radius about the camp in which prostitution is
strictly to be put down, the war department will
not tolerate evil resorts of auy kind within easy
reach of the camp, even though such resorts lie
spring up outside the 5mile limit but fairly acces
sible to the camp shall not hesitate to insist upon
their elimination. OF course il would be possible
to extend the zone, and shall not eyade the respon
sibility in case of necessity At the same time if
the zone is drawn with too large radius there is
danger that the number of soldiers required to
police il will be beyond the ability of the command
ing officer readily to furnish In such case there
fore il might be easier and cheaper to move the
camp to more desirable locality; provided, of
course that clean conditions could not be secured
through any other course.
Finally, let me say that the war department will
not tolerate the existence of any restricted district
,cithia an effective radius of the camp. Experience
has proved that such districts in the vicinity of
army camps, no matter how conducted, are newt.
ably attended by unhappy consequences. The only
practical policy tchch presents itself in relation to
tkis problem is the policy of absolute repression
and l am confident that in taking this course the
department has placed itself in line with the
best thought and practice which modern police ex-
perience has developed This policy nroIres, of
course constant rigiIaace the part of the police
not only in eliminating regular houses of prostitu
tion but in checking the more less clandestine
class that walks the streets and is apt to frequent
lodging houses and hotels.
have appointed commission on training camp
activities to advise with me matters of this kind
and through this commission shall keep constantly
in touch with conditions about all our army camps.
If you have any questions relating to the enforce
ment of the inclosed regulations trust you will not
hesitate to get in touch with me or with Mr.. Ray
mond B. Fosdick chairman of the commission.
Heantrhile / am sure the country is looking to as
to cooperate Effectively in this matter and to make
the surroundings of our camps acorthy of the fine
spirit of the nation tchich intrusts these young men
to as to be trained for serrice in great cause.