The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-10-25
SOLDIERS IN CAMPS ARE
MORALLY SAFEGUARDED.
Commissions on Training Camp Ac-
tivities Are Doing Great Work
For Our Soldier Boys


word impossible" has application tC
their problems. Moved by the same
spirit, Americans here at home have
attacked and solved certain problems
affecting the soldiers which hitherto
had been deemed impossible of solu-
ton. Once that spirit became mani
fest in the determination of the War
Department Commission on Training
Camp Activities to safeguard men in
camps, both physically and morally,
ways were found to enfroce laws be-
fore considered unenforceable, and to
abate conditions before accepted as
permanent,
The case of Corpus Christi, Texas,
as narrated by Mayor Roy H. Miller,
is typical of what has been accom-
plished in that direction. Two years
ago that community, a city of $4,000
neither better nor worse than others
in the land, became the base of the
Texas Brigade of the National Guard,
5000 strong, just returned from "a
sojourn in the mesquite along the
Mexican border. Though the city
was "dry," bootleggers piled their
trade, gamblers found victims, and
the City Fathers under charter pro-
visions maintained Segregated dis
trict." 1t became apparent at once
to the officials that something must
be done for the men in uniform.
So an attempt to "clean up" was
made; merchants were pledged to
charge no more to soldiers than to
regular civilian customers, the police
We're instructed to drive out the
gamblers and the illicit liquor deal
ers, the regulations affecting the pros
titutes were tightened.
Moreover, the citizens undertook
to provide in their homes and church
.es certain amount of social life
for the men quartered in Corpus
Christi But there was nothing re-
sembling an organized programme
directed by experts. The results sat-
isfied the local officials and the army
authorities in the district.
"But looking back now," declares
Mayor Miller, II can readily see that
the whole arrangement was merely
an invitation to the men to visit un-
desirable places"
Then in May, 1917, the Secretaries
Of War and Navy were ordered to
"do everything by them deemed nee
essary" to protect men in service
from prostitutes and liquor-sellers.
Barred zones were created and the
work of enforcing the new regula-
tions was turned over to the Com
mission on Training Camp Activities.
The result was the accomplishment
Of the impossible.
"A certain regiment left for some
where in France short time ago,
after being stationed here for nearly
a year." said Mayor Miller. Its
personnel, both officers and enlisted
men, had become part of the city's
life. Indeed the attachment had
grown so strong that when they took
their departure it was like the sepa-
ration of members of family. l
doubt very much if among the hun
dreds of thousands of American boys
who have gone over there there is
an organization composed OF men
better fit physically, mentally, and
morally, or in any particular which
goes to make up good fighting man.
That the atmosphere in which they
were trained had much to do with
this fact, / have no doubt. During
the time the regiment was stationed
here there was not single death nor
serious case of illness among the men
of the command. The record of the
regiment in respect to intoxlcatIon
and socia. disease was remarkable.
This is the record of achievement Of
the Law Enforcement Division of the
Commission on Training Camp Activ-
tiles, whose plans when first announc-
ed were considered the ideals of a
few dreamers, but which have proven
the vital factor in conserving the
nan-power essential to winning the
war"
Corpus Christi was entirely frank
II characterizing the cleanup regu-
lations as impossible when they were
first promulgated. Mayor Miller re-
garded them as running contrary to
human nature-at least, TO soldier
nature.
"But when the official order came, .
he saws, 81 conferred at once with
our Chief Of Police and Sheriff and
told them that the district would be
closed and that, furthermore, its III
mates would be required to leave fso
city. They were also iafopna' th-'
the order would be carried ont 10
anlv IN letter but in spirit, a1d that