Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-20
Secretary Daniels Calls
Rhode Island Chief For
Immoral Conditions.
NAVAL RECRUITS
MENACED BY CRIME
Gambling and Prostitution Permitted
to Flourish in Newport and Tempt
Young Men Under Training at Naval
Station - illegal Sales Of Liquor
Made-Seeretary Of Navy Demands
Prompt Action on Part Of State.

Washington, June 20.-Charges that
naval recruits at the Newport, r. l..
training station are exposed to open
gambling houses, immoral resorts and
illegal sales Of liquor were made py
Secretary Daniels today. when he said
he had appealed to Governor Beckman,
Ir response to a preliminary COM
plant the mayor of Newport made a
general denial and declared there was
no unusual degree Of immortality in the
fashionable city.
The navy department with the as
sLstance of agents of the department
of Justice thereupon made a separate
investigation and as result Secretary
Daniels renewed his complaint to the
today he said:
Furnishes List Of He'll HoIss.
II have just sent to the governor OF
Rhode Island a list in detail Of some OF
the most notorious houses of prostitu-
ton and open gambling houses in
Newport also calling his attention to
the extent and methods Of illegal sales
Of liquor to sailors and naval reserve
recruits, and informing him that the
department is ready to furnish him
with specific evidence iffhe state own
officers do not produce 1t.
'.At Newport and other places are
gathered several thousand Of the finest
youth of the land who have offered
their lives for the service of their coun-
try at time when this sacrifice 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 the
government will safeguard them from
unnecessary perils.
Government Is Responsible.
II am charged with the duty OF
training these young men for service
in the navy. State and local officers
are charged with the duty of seeing
that the laws of their state and Of the
United States are faithfully executed
There lies upon us morally to degree
far outreaching any technical RESPONSE
bility duty OF leaving nothing undone
to protect these young men from that
contamination of their bodies which
will not only impair their military ef-
flcienyc but blast their lives for the
future and return them to their homes
a source of danger to their families
and to the community at large.
Those dangers are bad enough In
ordinary times, In time Of war, when
great bodies of men are necessarily
gathered together, away from the re-
straints Of home and under the stress
of emotions whose reactions inevitably
tend to dislodge the standards Of nor
NAL life, they are multiplied manifold
and the harpies of the underworld
flock to make profit out Of the oppor-
tunity If we fail in vigilance under
these conditions, the mothers and faith
ers Of these lads and the country gen.
orally will rightly hold US responsible
Puts II Up to Governor.
81 feel confident that the governor OF
Rhode Island and tho local officers re-
spons:b!e to h!m Will aid the several
authorities and that officials at other
places whore the navy has gathered
large numbers Of men enlisted for ser
vice will appreciate the vital import
dnC0 OIL LNl0 4u0dSuA0 0uN tdhO ouSA
steps as will make unnecessary any
further steps by the government Of the
United States.
II am determined that 50 far as this
department 10 concerned nothing shall
be left undone that is possible to dis
charge the duty Of protecting these
lads who have been committed to our
care"