The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-18
CAMP fNNRONS
CLEARED OF VICE
Chairman Fosdick Says Not One
Segregated District Exists with.
In Effective Radius of Camps.
VIRGINIA rs COMMENDED
Apathy and Ignorance Give Way Be-
fore Application Of Vigorous Policy.
Towns Lend Their Active suppors
10 Work.

Washington. March 1T.--''There ia
not single red-light district EXIST
ing today within an effective radius
OF any army cantonment or naval sta.
ton where any considerable number
of soldiers or sailors are in training"
Raymond b. Fosdick. chairman of the
commission on training camp sctivi-
ties, declared today in summing up
vice conditions around military camps.
twenty-five segregated districts. To-
Gated within the five-rniie zones estab-
hshed around military camps, have
been closed under the congressional
enactment which provides for abso-
lutte repression in these areas, accord.
ing to Mr.. Fosdick. Beyond the dead
line in the cities contiguous to the
military camps many more have been
abolished through the Joint co-opera-
ton OF federal state and civic authorf~
ties. Scatteration" which has in
vartably followed the abolition OF
segregation in these cities also has
been combatted effectively through
the vigilance Of the same agencies, it
is stated.
Varying degrees of public igno-
rance and prejudice Mr.. Fosdick as
serts. have hampered the effective
enforcement of laws. There have
been people who have opposed any
change when cleanup was ordered
falling to realize the destructive in
fuence of the segregated zones upon
the military efficiency OF the soldiers
and sailors. Others have argued that
the abolition OF segregation would
scatter evil throughout the comnu-
nifty.
These conditions coupled with the
apathy of a few public officials have
forced the government to take dras-
tic steps to bring certain cities to 2
realization OF their duty in keeping
their soldier and sailor visitors fit for
fighting AT Seattle. Wash. recently
pressure brought about by indignant
citizens forced the officials to make
a sweeping clean up OF all question
able places after soldiers from Can1p
Lewis, at American Lake, Wash. ha1
been forbidden to enter the city b.
cause OF the vicious conditions exist
ing there at that time.
AS a whole. however, the Amert-
can communities are gearing the ma
chinery for the enforcement OF the
congressional laws up to higher
Z
where the commission is meeting with
most patriotic cooperation from citi-
Gems, who will not permit the continu-
ance of immortality In their town. to
compromise the municipalities devo-
ton to the cause Of winning the war
The influence of this movement on
the part of communities has spread
even to states The recently appoint
ed state military welfare commissions
in Virginia, California. Arkansas and
Minnesota are to be commended for
their effective work in this matter
which SO vitality affects the man
power of our army and navy. have
no hesitancy in saying that the ap-
pointments of these commissions BY
the governors of those states are great
forward steps toward the maintenance
OF efficient fighting troops.
Not only have the great bulk of
the towns In the vicinity OF camps as
sisted the commission on training
camp activities In cleaning up--they
have entered with admirable enthusi-
asm into the commissions program
for entertaining soldiers and placing
at their disposal the recreation re-
sources OF the city. Under the war
camp community service. undertaken
by the Recreation Association of
Am rica. the difTicuit task OF assin,ilst-
Ing the floating soldier populations has
proceeded with a. heartiness which Ats
in perfectly with the goverumS poliA
cy--not simply OF depressing vtn~ bu.
of setting up O. competitive system
a system of organized amusement and
clean recre ssion."