The Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1918-1919, 1919-05-24
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be military departure in prophylaxis
against vice and intemperance. The wastage Of
the SpanlSh-American war was from bad beef in
stead OF bullets, from mosquitoes in place of mis-
siles, from flies and disease rather than from the
destructive force of the Spaniards.
Science and sanitation triumphed over the
mosquito. Now it remains for American army
moral sanitation to triumph over the ruthless enc
mics, booze and disease.
One can read in the draft law, in the regula-
tons and in the express actions of Secretary of
War Baker that he means this army of 100000
clean young Americans to be the first army that
ever took the field and stayed in the field and
turned from the field untainted by the dual war
vices. Secretary Baker is determined that the
wounds inflicted upon army of liberation shall
be those inflicted by the central powers, and not
those SO habtuay inflicted by the army upon
itself
Recreation is to take the place of idleness
and indulgence. Adjoining miasmatc swamps of
booze and vice are to be drained Resort will he
had in garrison to heathful exercise to whole
some amusement, to ofhour activities, to ath-
letcs to play and to the devices that healthy men
indulge in at home.
Says Surgeon Major D. c. Howard in a recent
war department bulletin:
'Recreation will be of great value. IGeneSs
is said to be the mother of lechery. Wholesome
amuSemens and athletics will make the garrison
50 attractive that the soldier will be inclined to
spend his spare time in garrison No present-tay
problem in military preventive medicine is of
greater Importance in relation to the physical
efficiency of the army than that of effectual CON
troll of venereal disease"
Thus boldly is the issue stated because thus
boldly does the secretary of war propose to meet
mans worst enemy, which Surgeon Major Maus
describes as "The Great Red Plague"
Here is the common foe of emhattled mankind.
Aid and comfort have been given this enemy by
the ill-advised and prudish censorship of social
science.
"We want no damaged goods in the American
army of democracy" Capt. E. B. vedder of the
United States Medical corps. declares. AND to
show how strictly does General Gorgas propose to
make the American expedition as clean as he
made Havana and Panama. the Wassermann test
and not mere height and eyesight is the supreme
standard of fitness for this war.
This 100000 army of select men, possessing
youth physique and health. the department
proposes to return to their homes, If they survive
mere shot and shell fit fathers of future race.
The distressfu (many returned men and officers
say the disgracefuD socia. conditions that OBJ
tanned on the Mexican border will not be repeated
Mt Plattsburg, at Niagara, at Fort Sheridan or in
Europe. The Ell Paso vice barracks the hideous
dives-this nightmare will not be lived through
again. 1t belongs to the typhoid malaria age.
The great American game of baseball will form
a vital part in the training of the soldiers of the
army of democracy. When young America in
civil life Is not at work it is at the ball game
at the motion picture show at play in
FORM The American eXpeditionary soldier will
play fast he will train for service.
This IS the dctum of recreation expert who
knows the value of recreation, moral and educa-
tional, and who also knows the philosophy of
Messrs Baker and Gorgas. My authoritative in
formant continues with enthusiasm that is in
fictitious:
"Good athletes take such pride in their physical
fitness (and good soldiers necessarily good
athletes) that they will not abuse their health by
indulgences. But, aside from personal pride in
fitness, play is in itself the great prophylaXis
against immoral abuses.
"Work is prophylactic agent against disease.
but play is it's counterpart. If not its peer. Play
means health. The play spirit alone is strictly
normal Play is the preventive against physical
and mental and moral breakdown"
The rediscovery of play social agent is
Of the most vital discoveries of modern times.
Recreation is its organized application. 1t has
been applied Internationally. 1t has been DELHI
erately applied to redeem the city youth from
crime and degeneracy. But it lent itself natural
~, unconsciously to the adults, needs in the
marvellous development of recreatons other than
booze and vice.
Secretary of War Baker is sensitive to modern
sociological Developments 1t went without saying
that whatever might be his merits demerits in
practical military organization, he of all men
would bring to the American army of democracy
appreciation of the sociological factors A
system OF reCreatlOn Tor the enlisted man tnat
will supplant booze and vice will undoubtedly take
shape from the earliest mobilization and will con-
tnue to be safety device for this uniquely pro-
tected army the battle front
One observes with keen interest that the
department has engaged a number of recreation
experts for the supervision of recreation at the
large training camps. There is here
theoretc attention to play, no paper application
Of recreation philosophy, mere philanthropic
interest in the soldiers idle hour similar to the
interest which a charitable gentleman would take
in supplying tracts to hospital or books to
old ladies' home, bat and ball to a nephew
The problem before us is scarcely of part with
sewing society work. However, to avoid any
gesture of sensationalsm it is well to follow the
plain, serious words of the war department bulle-
tins to illustrate the vice side of the problem
Capt E. B. Vedder of the United States Medical
corps, in War Department Bulletin No. s, writes
substantially follows:
"Our sick report has been reprCach in that
have had more men on the sick report because Of