The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-03-22
No PLACE FOR A
CLACKER IN j. :.
AYERS WOOLSON
Local Boy, With Engineers,
Is Enemy OF So-CaIled
Crepe Hanger
LETTERS TO SOLDIERS
SHOULD BE CHEERFUL
Back To Nature Is Now The
Plan Of Work At
Cp. Sheridan

The following letter in which is
food for thought for everybody who
knows soldier-and who doesn't
know soldier?-has been received
here from Harold +. Woolson of ID
Co., l12th Engineers. stationed at
Camp Sheridan, Alabama:
Il wish you were with us on the
job we are now putting through-not
so much for the nature of the work
as for the manner in which we are
living.
LIVE IN PUP TENTS
Our battalion was hiked out to the
rifle range last Wednesday to repair
some bad roads and, as Is customary
on trips of this kind. the men are
quartered IN pup tents which neces-
states sleeping on the ground. or
course there is nothing TO prevent
one from making bed with leaves
or other dry foliage, which most of
the men do, but the height of the tent
will not permit of bunks being
built, so old Mother Earth is harness.
ed for the job
II remember when my father used
10 tell about sleeping on the ground
at times when he was in the civil
war and ! wondered how n man could
even rest, not to mention actual
sleeping But the fact of the matter
is that after doing a hard days work,
there Is no trouble AT all to crawl in
and sleep soundly and to awake feel.
ing refreshed. The trouble with most
of us has been that luxury had be.
come To be considered necessity.
The awakening has been rude, but
quite beneficial.
THE oDlOUS CLACkERS
81 read an article this evening In
Golfers of February . by William
Slavens McNutt, entitled "'rhe Clack
ers,' which impressed me consider
ably. The soldiers call this same
class of people crepe hangers
But whatever term is applied to
them, there Is no doubt about their
so'called Clackers are people who get
I9Kether and moan and groan about
the terrible fate in store for Sammy
when he gets to France.
And they don't stop at gossiping
among themselves, but write doleful
news to the fellows in camp and at
the front. A great many times | can
tell by the expression of soldiers
face, just after the mail has been dis
tribnted, when he has received FUN
eral letter The people back home
ought to be more careful about their
messages to the boys.
uNsouGHT SYMPATHY
Another favorite pastime prac-
ticed by certain few, or the mem
bers OF this Clacker society, Is sym
pathizing with the soldier home on
furlough. AS a rule, he Is not seek.
ing sympathy or course. there are
perhaps few men who delight in
thar sort of bunk, but the big major.
ity OF them are bored by It, Such
across?' and How do you feel about
the prospects OF being shot at?' and
others equally needless, have no
place In conversation with n sol.
dier.
THE RUMoR HABIT /
Then the habit of starting or re.
peatng rumors regarding lack OF
equipment and harsh treatment of
The men on the part OF the officers
should be discontinued.
81 don't think our company is any
exception and | know that we are all
well provided with clothing and re.
ceive excellent treatment. Naturally, .
II goes little hard AT first to knuckle
down 10 discipline, but the first duty
OF soldier is obedience and without
one, you cannot get the other so II Is
necessary al times for the officers to
get after the men. II soldier obeys
orders promptly and pays strict at
tention to what Is said, he has
smooth sailing. Otherwise he is in
for trouble.
NO KICK HERE
There Is no kick on the quality OF
food that Is provided either--always
well prepared and plenty of It,
In summing up the whole situa-
iion. | might request that the long
faces be shortened by their wearers
and everybody put on Il pleasant
smile. Have the Clackers disband
and reorganize as a real American So
ciety. See more OF the doughnut and
not so much OF the hole"