Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-13
DENVER SOCIOLOGIST FLAYS VICE
AND LIQUOR CONDITIONS IN SOME
OF THE SOUTHERN TRAINING CAMPS

made their uniforms-our uniforms
impossible. 1t was disgraceful sight
Ia nations dishonor, and breathed an
odium Of reproach on Louisiana and
New Orleans. They made their way
into that part of the city made up of
tered a corner saloon Ia place almost
obscure among the wholesale CONNER
cial buildings) named the Halfway
House. Why it was named the Half
way House / could not understand, un-
less it was halfway between the river
and the largest coffin factory in the
country. Almost Immediately they
appeared again on the street thru a
side door, and waveringly made their
way up the contaminated open sewer
streets toward the casket factory.
followed them no further, but strange
as it may seem, the next morning
seated in one of the open squares, a
young man who happened to be an
employe of the coffin factory, in a
casual conversation. Unexpectedly con-
tinued the story of the drunken SOL
diers He said, when they reached
the factory they soon became help
less. insensible. We gave them bed
among the caskets, on the material
in which they pack the cases for the
dead. At that point a corporal hap
pened along and discovered they were
from one of the approximate camps
little further north, and of his com
pany. He searched them to see if
they had any money. and on one of
the boys he found $50. and left note
10 the effect to tell the boys he had
their money when they recovered con-
sciousness. Late in the afternoon
when they became mentally normal,
/ the first concernment was of their
money, the boy who had the money
declaring he had $40 when he and his
pal came TO New Orleans the day be
fore. He remembered meeting two
women and Of having many strange
adventures, but he was positive he
had $50 left. and when the employe
gave them the officers note they were
! greatly relieved. and made their way
in search Of their commander
Now. II these boys had never re-
/ gained consciousness, So filled were
they with embalming fluid, they would
not have needed an undertaken and
could have been rolled into one Of the
Z raskcts and shipped 10000 miles with
ont any apprehension.
Soldiers Obtain Liquor.
Il came under my observation the
many ways and means employed by
]
strong drink. The suit case contain
ing civilian clothes in some room or
even in some dark hole or quarter
lquickly transformed the soldier to one
lin civil life, and then in the mad
ldelirium from the influence Of strong
drink they are frequently arrested by
the city authorities, who, in turn, put
Them in the hands of the military au-
thorities and they are court-martialed.
What a multiplicity of these things
could be told. Things unprintable, in
this state and city-God seems to have
forsalSen. this city that holds 5000
Of our national defenders and often
many more. for they come from many
camps on three to thirty days fur
lough. for "a time" as they express
il. to this city where everyone is
drunk by 10 o'clock at night.
Now. let me state right here that
| am not speaking in a spirit of criti-
cism in the least of our government
and our army camps. ! think II won
derful that in so short a time we
have been able to mobilize so great an
army and ! think it still more won
dcrful the effectual effort our coun-
Itry has made TO guard and protect the
welfare Of that army.
Where there is any fear of detec-
/
in selling his wares to our boys in
uniform. so here. as in nearly all wet
states and cities. it is rarely one sees
the soldier openly served TO strong
drink. but we cannot live in an atmos-
phere that is destructive to life and
not be infected with the venom.
I'VE Want Men"
One Sunday morning | entered the
Bible class in one of the leading
protestant churches, and the theme
Of the lesson was I'VE Want Men"
The leader of the class took the trite
view (of this mighty subject), the
view of asking some one down at the
office or wayward friend to have a
change of heart ! stood il to the end
of endurance. Then | took for my
text, THAT which is good and true
for us individually is good and true
for us collectively" and / poured out
my wrath on the city of New Orleans
for its crime of the ruin of our men.
when I'VE Want Men" And a noble
boy in uniform just back of me caught
up my theme. and said, Yes, come
with me to my camp and | will show
YOU our soldier boys whose backs
sores, living living death, and these
physical wrecks were made since
coming to New Orleans"
Visits Jackson Barracks.
The next morning l made visit
to Jackson Barracks. At the entrance
| was stopped by guard, demanding
my name and business. Declaring my
wish was only to visit the hospital.
After he received instructions from
higher authority, / was admitted. To
my first question to the captain in