The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1919-10-03
Hurnanitarianisrn Is
Generally Approved

FORT MONROE, Va, Sept. 2S, 1919,
The Lexington Advertiser,
Lexington, Miss.
Dear Sirs:---In your issue dated Sep
ternber 10. 1919, page eight, column Ave,
you printed under ths heading "wife
Reater to Join the Army" statement
which resent.
This man Smith was fiRsd $t0e,08 and
costs and promise was exacted from him
to Join the United States army. IL In
this part that am ashamed TO see printed
In paper which comes from the COM
munity where was born and reared and
am sure that the good people Of Mis-
sissippi and Holmes county feel 10 I do
about II. II this had been paid article
the editor Of The Advertiser should have
refused to print such statement. Did
the party who caused that promise to be
made have a son or dear one In the army
that was at war with Germany Not
withstanding, he classes tho prmy below
that of the state penitentiaries, for evil
IDENTIFY he believed that the army could
punish such a man more severely than
the state penitentiary. I'm the peniten-
tiary there are some good men who are
innocent and are being done an injustice,
while on the other hand the great ma
jority are there for Just cause. Also
there are free men who should be there
that are not, but why say the army Is the
best place for IA wife heater and as your
paper states, "Smith il of Indian extrac-
tion and his blood Is as volcanic as the
scoriac rivers that roll, as the lavas that
restlessly roll down the sides of Mount
Yaanek in the Ultimate climes of the
pole He Is of a wild and combative
disposition and is greatly In the need Of
discipline, which 1t is to be hoped he will
receive in full measure in the army.n
| do not know who the author of this
article Is nor do know John Smith, but
there are a few things do know, one 10
that almost daily men of the army are
being sent to the United States prisons
for misdoings and moreover they are be-
ing given dishonorable discharges FROM
the army so that they will never hc able
to wear the uniform that III held In the
highest esteem by all patriots who live
and love the American flag. Does the
man who exacted this promise, love his
country and flag or was 1t an error on his
part? Maybe he has been misinformed
If so, | want this letter to you to cause
him to investigate and find out for him
self. the kind of men who are real SOL
diers, ready to defend any insult to the
flag or to the country. Further, this
article leads one to believe that every
Eaen who is in or has been in the army
has been III - INSTITUTION that is COM
parable to penitentiary. Also, that
those men who died for the defense of
our country have shed their blood while
member of such an organization. This
ia untrue, for the best Of men shed their
blood for their country and the uniform
they wear is to be honored,
What is disciplinef Definition: "Dis-
cipline is not merely preservation Of or
der, faithful performances of duty, and
the prevention of offenses in other words,
discipline is not merely compliance with
a set of rules and regulations drawn up
for the purpose of preserving order in an
organization. This is only one phase Of
discipline. In its deeper and more inn
portant sense, discipline may be defined
as the habit Of instantaneous and In
stinctive obedience under any and all
circumstances, 1t is the habit whereby
the very muscles of the soldier in
stinctively obey the word Of command. 20
that under whatever circumstances Of
danger or death the soldier may hear the
word of command even though his mind
be too confused to work, his muscles will
obey. 1t is toward this ultimate object
that all rules of discipline tend.
Does this definition of discipline in any
way cure "Wife Beaters" or such q man
as the article states that Smith is? The
party causing this promise to be exacted
has made the man promise to commit him
self again as punishment for his present
misdoings, also he has made the man
promise to do something that IL carried
out will cause others to violate the law.
Will quote here part of paragraph $40 of
the army regulations:
"The enlistment or acceptance with
view to enlistment Of persons Of any Of
the following classes 10 prohibited: In
sane or intoxicated persons, or persons
who have been convicted Of felony or
who have been imprisoned under sentence
Of court in . refSTmatory, Jail or peni-
tentiary, etc"
Also l quote the 54th and 66th article
Of war which In an act Of congress:
Art, 81. Fraudulent Enlistment.--A
person who shall procure himself TO be
enlisted in the military service Of the
United States by means Of wilful mis-
representation or concealment as 10 his
qualifications for enlistment, and shall
receive pay or allowances under such
enlistment shall be punished as court
martial may direct.
Art. S., OfAcer Making Unlawful En-
listment. ANY officer who knowingly en-
lista or mustsrs into the military service |
any person whose enlistment or muster
IL is proa,oited By Law, regulations. or
orders shall be dismissed from the service
or suffer such other punishment 20
court-martial May direct.
However II man was soldier and
IL f.. -