New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-05-25
WRITE CHEERFUL LETTERS.

Alexandria, La, May 2, 1918.
Governor Rufin G. Pleasant. Ba-
ton Rouge. La:
Nv dear Governor Pleasant-As
the Chief Executive Of your State
and as a patriotic citizen Of this
Nation, know you are interested
in the welfare Of the soldiers OF
this Camp, thousands Of whom
are from Louisiana.
It is impressed upon my mind
every day that many mothers,
wives and sweethearts of our SOL
diers are, unwittingly, bringing
upon themselves and upon their
soldier relatives the greatest mis-
cry and disgrace.
II want to see you. Please
come home.
These eight words Of affection
compose hundreds of messages
that are received by the men In
this camp each day. Despite the
fact that they appear as tender
tokens from home, they are the
cause of more misery and anguish
OH the part Of the soldiers OF
Camp Beauregard than any other
cause. They engender home
sickness and discomfort in the
hearts of the boys, who go. with
or without leave, to their loved
ones. In these strenuous times OF
war, the crime Of being absent
without leave is serious one and
its punishment is well known,
especially to the men Of the amy.
Because the folks at home are
the innocent causes Of so many
of these crimes. | want.to make a
direct appeal to relatives and
friends of the men to refrain from
addressing to them messages that
make them believe that things are
not right at home-that they
should return to their firesides,
even without permission.
1T is natural know for sick
wife or mother to want to see her
soldier boy. In every one, ex-
cept the most extreme cases. the
desire should be suppressed, for
the soldier, not being physician,
could accomplish mo real good by
visit, but could, on the other
hand, by such visit without leave
get himself into a predicament
from which he cannot extricate
himself In months and in some
cases years. "A soldier should not
be written discouraging letters,
but instead, he should be sent
words of cheer. He has import
ant duties to perform for his
country and he can do them bet
ter with a light heart.
The sight Of prisoner wear
ing a ball and chain, is pitiful
one in private life. That Of sol
dier boy being driven to unpleas-
ant duties Of a prisoner under
{ guard is just as shocking. but it
Ms not an infrequent sight in this
camp. The greatest number Of
the reasons for his predicament
are letters written by folks at
home imploring him to come to
them.
In many eases Of desertion the
cause is traced to these seeming
" innocent letters from home.
The soldier receives such a let
ter. he gets homesick or blue
and decides to leave, with or with
out permission. After he ar
riyes at his home. he begins to
realize what his action means and
he decides to stay. Desertion in
time Of war is punishable by the
death penalty. Deserters from
this Division are sentenced to con-
finement in the Federal Peniten-
tiary for long terms, ranging
from ten to twenty-five years.
If mothers. wives and sweet
hearts could be made to under
stand what misery and disgrace
they may bring upon their loved
ones by writing such letters. ] am
sure they would send messages
Of good cheer instead Of those
which will make the son. husband
or sweetheart downcast and home.
sick.
II the people of Arkansas,
Louisiana and Mississippi would
realize that every letter written
j soldier making him feel that
things were not alright At home
was the worst thing for his vel
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