Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-02-07

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permitting enlised, men OF the army
navy and marine corps. who are now
or who have been as any time engag- /
ed In active service since the declare 1
ton of war by the government Of the
United States against the Imperial I
| government of Germany. and who
have been or who shall pc hereafter
honorahly discharged from the army, /,
navy or marine corps, 20 retain and /
keep as their own individual property
all OF the uniforms. including over
coats. possessed by them 81 the time
of their discharge.
4 The present law requires that they
must surrender a. such equipment.
with the exception Of underwear and
socks. within four months from the
time Of their discharge. In connection
with the Introduction OF this resolu
ton. Senator Watson observes that
the veterans OF the Civil War on both
sides were permitted to retain their
uniforms and were very proud 10
wear them In after years,
Not All A Matter os Sentiment.
There IL something 10 thls reaolu-
tion. however. in addition TO che sen-
timent attached TO It. At the present
price OF clothing II coats quite . sum
for q soldier 10 equip himself with m
entire civilian outfit. a. the majority
of the men discharged from the army
will have TO do because OF the change
In their physical stature since they
entred the army. II In universally re-
ported that the training in eamps and
the active campaigning In France has
so modified the stature OF the men
who entered the army. that the over
whelming majority OF them cannot
wear the civilian outfits they put
aside when they were called TO ser,
vice
In addition TO those two features.
there Ia yet another. The Kansas
City Star relates the story OF soldier
who was wounded in overseas service
sent home to Camp Funston, and
there honorabiy discharged from the
army. He went to Junction City.
Kansas. where IL took every cent or
his savings to buy complete civilian
/ outfit. he having. under the present
law, been compelled to turn over all
of his soldier outfit to the govern
ment.
At practically the same time, a
] conscientious objector' was released
from Camp Funston, nndeF order 81
Secretary az War. Baker. His dis.
charge alip. showed that he had not
rendered any military service. that he
had refused to wear amy military ami
form. that his military career waa
bad Nevertheless. an offlcial Of the
government accompanied him T.
Junction City. Kansas. and there. IN.
der the rules of the War Department
bought him a complete new civilian
outfit, the government paying the bill
why Favor the sHackers7
There can be no defense Of q ays.
tenn which eompeIs men who have
honorabiy served In the army and na.
wy to give up all OF their military
clothing, and at their own expense
buy civilian outfits. which. at the
same time. enables men, who have
refused to fight or even wear the uni
form of their country, TO reeiothei
themselves completely At the expense
Of the government.
The Philadelphia Inquirer. 10 com
menting upon the law which senato
Watson would amend, says in an odi
toriai. under the Must Tn
Gle Sam Become An Old Clos
MANI
Under the present army reguia
tions enlisted men discharged from
the army are required to turn bacl
within four months time one suit o
uniform outer clothing. which Gen
March interpreta TO mean q hat an
haf-cord, q flannel shirt. service Goa
and ornaments. pair of breaches
pair of shoes. pair Of ieggins. bell
overcoat and siicker. The soidie
u may keep his underwear and socks.
What does the government van
of the soldiers old cIothes2 The qual
III termaster's department . Stoke
M with clothes enough to supply IN q
my of 3 700 900 men for year. an
although the efficiency men Of the d
partment are very keen on the matt
of salvage Just 1t present. the vail
. of these old uniforms even for co
- version into shoddy. 10 inconaeque
tial,
Possibly their value 10 the I'M
v'duai soldier will not be greater
the majority Of cases. but II here q
there q soldier may find himself
anch circumstances thai part OF !