The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-07-09
Shall They Be Barred ?

"A spccldi utetluS VI tAc DuSihS
Mems Association was held Frida
T. evening in response to request frol
q the Camp Community Service at Cam
Dix that certain reports concernin
, this town might be discussed. TheI
were present, besides lare
number of the members Of the associs
ton, Mr.. Jackson, the Communit
Service man at Camp Dix; Mr.. II. I
Rupert, who has just come here to as
sist Mr.. Jackson, and Major Doughel
ty. Mr.. Jackson spoke of the report
: that had come to the camp of action
here that were of such a nature that
, if continued, would probably cause a.
|, order to 60 out preventing soldier
from coming to this town. The state
ments of Mr.. Jackson seemed to plac
Mount Holly on the list as one of thu
worst places in the universe, but afte
some of those present had given thei
views and told what they actually
knew, different aspect was presented
Among the charges was one thai
soldiers were able to get drink here
without any opposition, and Major
Dougherty told of the number OF men
picked up by the military police and
taken to camp drunk, and reported as
being arrested at Mount Holly. 1t was
clearly proven that many of these
men secured liquor at other places,
getting off the cars here and then
being arrested. OF course the report
had to 60 in that Mount Holly was to
blame. After thorough discussion of
the matter the gentlemen who had
come from the camp possibly got the
impression that Mount Holly is pretty
clean, considering the number OF citi-
zens it contains and the great number
of soldiers who come here daily. The
meeting adjourned with the agreement
that the camp authorities would act in
connection with our local government
and do all that could be thought of to
keep things clean.
To show how matters may be exag-
gerated and much made out of moth
ing, it is only necessary to say that,
with all the soldiers and citizens in the
town on the fourth of July, aggregat-
ing possibly 10000, there were but two
arrests during the entire day.
In connection with this matter it
may not be out of place to give the
report of what the Soldiers club house
has been doing. 1t is also correct to
state that this report was written by
a gentleman connected with the Com
munity Service. 1t says:
Mount Holly is growing famous
overseas. The boys are talking about
the good times they had there, and
they will not forget the happy hours
the good people made possible for them
there" Many letters have been re-
ceived, all telling the same story, and
some of them may soon be printed in
full.
The people of Mount Holly have
realized what it has meant to the boys
at Camp Dix to be brought back in
touch with some of the normal rela-
tionships they left upon entering the
service. No town has done more to
help keep the boys in state of men,
tai and physical fitness while they are
preparing for the service into which
they have been called.
The War Camp Community Service
was established here several months
ago for the purpose of co-ordinating
the various activities in the interests of
the soldiers during their leisure hours.
Through its activities the homes of the
town have thrown open their doors in
most generous hospitality. The
churches have provided refreshments
and social hours. The fraternal orders
and the fire department have offered
their recreation rooms. The Soldiers
Club House has been established and
most efficiently operated, with the
volunteer assistance of the ladies of
various churches.
Many visitors and friends of the SOL
diers dropped in during the evening to
enjoy the carnival spirit the boys felt
free to display. They knew that this
was their home, and they were most
free in the acceptance of its hospitality.
Mr.. Humphreys, director of singing at
Camp Dix, added much to the spirit in
the general singing, A number of the
boys gave evidence Of splendid profess
sional qualities in their singing and
entertaining. When they left they
went smiling, and praising Mount
Holly and declaring that they wanted
to come again at the first opportunity.
There are many activities to be un-
dertaken by the War Camp Commun-
ity Service in the near future. I'M
provements are to be made to the Club
House; renewed hospitality in the
homes is to be encouraged; special
efforts will be made to satisfactorily
locate the friends and relatives of the
soldiers when they come to the city
Sunday afternoon outdoor singing and
social hour for the citizens and soldiers,
with special music and entertainments
from Camp Dix are to be arranged for;
special local talent entertainments Of
various kinds, with assistance from
Camp, are to be encouraged and car
ried out. A smilage campaign or tag
day will be put through. The soldier
is to be made at home as never before,
snd when he goes out across the sea,
he is going to look back with memories
that will help make him the true SOL
dier that Mount Holly and the War
Camp Community Service want him
to be.
The Bird and 4Gh, just passed, were
especially lively days about this club,
but those who have watched the splen-
did normal growth during the past
three weeks preceding the Fourth re-
allied fully the splendid service of this
department. of the War Camp Com
munity activity. Three weeks ago the
number Of men served doubled that O
any previous week. The following weel
the service doubled again. On the Sat
urday and Sunday preceding the 4th
over 700 men were served in one way
or another.
Wednesday night preceding the Att
the sleeping accommodations at th'
club were entirely inadequate, although
thirty-two men were slept in clear
beds. The price was only rs cents pc
bed. AS many men again, directed b,