The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-11-08
THE UNIFORM


Editor Star: You have an editorial
il. your issue of Saturday in reference
to the wearing of the army Uniform
by ex-soldiers. think that you make
a mistake in the advice that you give
to the men who were in service. You
are wrong, / think, in saying that
regulations govern men in the army,
not citizens. if you mean by this that
the government shall not say whether
its citizens shall wear the uniform
prescribed for its soldiers.
The dignity of the uniform must be
preserved. 1t seems to me that it de-
tracts something from the uniform,
or rather from the regard in which it
is held, to have it worn as pair of
overalls, for example. Tt is proper, for
instance, that the government should
prohibit the use of uniforms similar
to the army uniforms by bell boys.
But apart from opinion, permit me
to quote the following from the laws
enacted by the Congress of the United
States:
cit is unlawful for anyone not a
member of the army, navy or marine
corps to wear the uniform, any dis
tinctive part of the uniform any part
CT which is similar to distinctive
part of the regulation uniform.
Exceptions to this general provis-
ion are:
members of societies composed
entirely of honorably discharged off
GERS and men may wear the uniform
on occasions of ceremony, but must
have some distinctive mark on it and
much not wear any insignia of rank.
"Honorably discharged officers may
wear, on occasions of ceremony, the
uniform of the highest grade they
held.
"Honorably discharged men are all
lowed to wear the uniform from
place of discharge to their homes,
during a period of three months, but
on reaching home within this period
must Immediately divest themselves of
the uniform.
Persons representing military
character in theatrical or moving
picture performance may wear the
uniform during that performance,
providing it does not tend to bring
discredit on the service.
INSTRUCTORS and members of cadet
corps may wear the uniform pre-
scribed for their corps.
Members of the Boy Scouts, Naval
Militia and similar organizations may
wear the uniform of their organiza-
tions.
members of the National Guard
may wear the uniform prescribed for
the guard"
1t is evident that these regulations
apply to civilians.
Undoubtedly it may be hardship
on some to have a number of uni
forms out of which they can get no
service. But here is the law, and the
law should be obeyed. Moreover, the
government has the power to enforce
these laws. Respectfully,
Louis III. Chazal.
$50
The government has the power to
do many things that it should do and
doesn't do. One of these things is
that it doesn't demand for the wear
ers of its uniform the respect due
them not only as soldiers and sailors
but as men. There are a number of
hotels, theaters and other public
places in the United States where a
profiteer, a Stacker, gambler, a
wanton or any thing with money and
in civilian clothes can enter, alongside
of the most respected men and wom-
en-, but if a clean, well set up and well
behaved man in the uniform of a pri-
vate soldier or common sailor seeks
admittance he is refused. The gov
eminent can and should make these
places open their doors to its defend
ers, but does it? Not so as you could
notice it.
We yield to no one in our respect
for the uniform and honor for the
men who wear it. We think the gov
eminent is right in saying that a
man who has not served IN its army
or navy shall not wear It's uniform.
We think that every ex-service man
should take care of his uniform and
wear it only on ceremonial occasions
If he can. But we don't believe in