The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-05-18
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
FEDERAL JUDGE SCORES CRIMl.
NAILS WHO SOLD BOOZE
TO SOLDIERS.

A number of prisoners convicted
in the United States court upon the
charge of selling liquor to soldiers
were sentenced by Judge Jack, in
Alexandria, La, last week. In passing
sentence, Judge Jack said:
"The United States must win this
war. Such is the determination of
every patriotic citizen, and everything
else must be subordinated to the sue
cess of the American Army and Navy.
The flower of the young manhood of
the nation has been, and is being, en-
listed in our military forces, and here
at Alexandria over 10000 are being
! trained for the service. Their officers
are bending every energy to make
| them, as soon as possible, skilled, eff
| cient, and physically fit. The least
| that we who remain at home can do
Is to give these officers and enlisted
men every aid, encouragement, and
assistance. Any act or word of the
civilian which would tend to impair
their morale, interfere with their dis
cipline, or in anywise make for ineffi-
cheney, is an act of disloyalty which
will not be tolerated.
Handcuffed Soldiers.
"a few weeks ago, when waiting
for my train in the depot of AleXan-
dria, I heard the tramp of approaching
soldiers. Looking up, / felt thrill
of pride as a squad of boys in khaki
marched in, but, as they came nearer,
l was shocked to note that they were
handcuffed. On inquiry of the officer
in charge, learned that they were be-
ing taken to the federal penitentiary
at Leavenworth, Kan. / stated to him
that had just charged the grand jury
to make thorough investigation of
the sale of liquor to soldiers, about
which serious complaints had been
made by the commanding general at
Camp Beauregard, and that I would
like to know how many of these young
men, if any, had committed the Of
lenses for which they had been court
martialed, while under the influence
of liquor, and his reply was, five of
the thirteen.
A Mothers Kiss.
But few weeks before, may we
not presume, each of these strong,
vigorous, husky young fellows had left
: his home with a mothers kiss and a
. fathers blessing. In tears, but with
patriotic pride, they babe their boy
goodbye and prayed God that on the
\ 1 fields hn 1iobf GnhF 1t,
country, bravely and we'll, and when
the victory came, return to them, his
mind and heart pure as when he left,
, his body sound and indebted, his
record as soldier one of courage and
of honor. The mothers heart now
aches, and the proud fathers head is
bowed in shame. The boys life is
., wrecked. How much better had he
died glorious death in the trenches
rather than have brought disgrace on
: himself and his loved ones. But did
: the young soldier beset by temptation,
himself, and alone, bring about his
j, dishonor? Is not the civilian who pro-
J., vided the liquor the arch offender?
Y The former but yielded to temptation;
the latter for sordid financial gain set
, the snare. If, ir the enforcement of
necessarily strict discipline, these
b., young men must serve penitentiary
J, terms, and they are but few of the
men, what punishment should be
} meted out to those who, actuated by
selfish greed and reckless of conse-
, quences, have caused their downfall?
Strikes at the Nation.
1T would be bad enough if this were
, the end, the humiliation and dishonor
of the soldier boys themselves and of
their families, but the evil is deeper
rooted, it strikes at the discipline and
efficiency of the Army which must save
the nation and preserve freedom and
democracy for generations to come.
The Government is making every eff
fort to arm and equip our soldiers with
the very best that can be provided,
and to give them such preliminary
training as will make them skilled
and efficient fighters. In it's wisdom,
Congress has by statute prohibited the
sale of intoxicating liquor to enlisted
men in uniform
This court is determined to uphold
and strictly enforce this law and all
! regulations prescribed for the protec-
ton of the soldiers at Camp Beaure-
gard and within this district, and to
stamp out this pernicious and democrat
izing practice"