The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-01-11
CAMP "AuTocRAcYp


publications that Camp Joseph e.
Johnston, on account of the conduct
of its officers, was to be breyetted
Camp Democracy"
But upon reading an interview with
Colonel Munson our hopes are shat
tered, and instead if the views of this
officer are to be carried out, it Will
have to rest under the soubrequet OF
Camp "Autocracy"
In a late issue OF the Jacksonville
Metropolis we find the following:
Should the lines be drawn socially
between officers of the army and the
enlisted men?
"Of all the questions which have
arisen since the new United States
army has been created, none perhaps
than this has served more generally to
perplex.
1T is a question which is occupying
to the exclusion of all other matter,
certain brain cells in the back of ev-
cry mans and womans head in this
country.
ITO democratic Americans the
drawing of lines socially is something
universally considered as obnoxious. "
With a view to ascertaining just
how the higher authorities of the army
look upon the matter, the editor OF
the Metropolis wrote the following
letter to the adiutant general, and re-
ceived in reply the letter reproduced
below:
Jacksonville, December 13, 1917
tAdjutant General, United States
Army. Washington. D. c.:
Dear Sir A peculiar condition has
arisen in this country since the new
United States army was created.
Loyal Americans of birth. breed
ing and business ability, many of them
heads of big enterprises, have gallant
ly responded to their countrys call,
and many have joined the colors as
privates. AS a matter of fact, many
of these privates, prior to the war,
were the employers of their officers.
Now. this is a democratic country.
and we recognize the value of discip-
that the line should be drawn socially
between these men when not on duty,
and a sentiment is being formed in
this country to realize this situation.
Il am enclosing you an editorial from
the New York Morning Telegraph,
bearing on this matter Many of the
papers are commenting on it, and |
would like to have your opinion on
this matter
Yours very truly,
w r. CARTER.
President The Metropolis Co"
Gen. McCains' Reply
war Department.
The Adiutant Generals Office.
w ACCN H. 4PIA
Mr. W. r. Carter. President The Me-
tropolis Co, Jacksonville. Fla:
Dear Sir--In reply to your letter
of the 13tht instant, regarding line
thought to be drawn socially between
officers and enlisted men of the army,
have the honor to inform you as fol-
lows:
THE war department has endeav-
ored. and is endeavoring by every
means within it's power to Impress
upon officers the military value of cor
dial relationships have them un-
derstand that as is the officer so is
the command-that their spirit and
their actions constitute the example
upon which the spirited actions Of the
men are moulded. While here and
there instances undoubtedly occur of
thoughtlesS and inconsiderate conduct
on the part OF officers. and of unrea-
sOning complaint on the part of the
men who have failed to understand
the just obligations of this sdiscipli-
nary relationship, l am still persuad-
ed that in the great army we now
have in the field and in training there
is growing realization that it is both
possible and useful to be faithful 10
military discipline, and at the same
time to the democratic IDEALS of or
country.
Very respectfully yours,
N. p MCCAIN.
The Adjutant General"
1t will be seen from the above that
the adjutant general side-steps the is
sue, but reading between the lines
one can see that he excuses the draw
inn Of hA al