South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-28
SNOBBERY IN ARMY
GIVEN SETBACK BY
CONGRESS MEASURE
Will Cut Salary of Officers
Who Seek To Enforce
Distinction.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW
CNsws-Timss Washington Correspondence


WASHINGTON. D. c.. April 81
s5nobbcry IN the United States army
has received setback. II not a
finishing blow. as the result OF the
adoption by the house OF an amend
ment to the army appropriation bill
cutting OFF the salary of any army
officer who seeks 10 enforce class
distinction between men OF the Unit
cd States army The legislation ad-
opted by the house does not apply
60 the navy where snObbery is known
10 exist In even a greater degree
than IN the army but IL II expected
that the example set Will be followed
IN the framing OF the next apprOpri-
alton bill for the naval branch OF
the service.
Difficult To Reject.
The publicity given to snobbery in
the army in connection with the ad-
option or the amendment IN the
house. Will make 1t difficult for the
senate 10 reject the amendment,
even II # desired TO do so. There
fore II IS expected that the house
amendment will be In the bill when
It becomes a law. no army officer
VIII cherish the thought OF having
his pay taken away from him and
hereafter officers will think twice
before they practice social degrade
tiOn on the men under them.
Rep. William j. Fields OF Ken
lucky, author OF the anti-snobbery
amendment. relates interesting In
stances OF snubbery that have come
under his observation.
Much Unrest.
You can 90 through the country
today" he said, and you will find
thing fhaf "a ~anufpo
most unrest among the former
service men. the thing that IS pois-
Oning the minds of the youth OF the
country most against the military
establishment. Is the social distinc-
tiOn that We find in the army OF the
United States. venture the asser-
tiOn that the only place in the world
today where the last remnant OF
Prussian autocracy is left IN security
= in the army OF the United States.
There is not another army in the
world where social distinction IS
recognized and practiced as II Is in
the army of the United States.
Noble Influence.
There Is nothing that would ex-
ert more noble influence over the
youth OF the army than for the
army officers, once in a while at
least. 10 get down off their lordly
perches and put their arms around
them socially and take them into
their confidence and their associa-
ton"
Rep. Fields tells OF an order that
was Used from the headquarters Of
Gen. Buck. commanding a Texas
camp, which prevented officers and
men from attending the same public
gatherings, assembling in the same
=
also said that he saw a photograph
OF a similar order which was posted
at another camp and that he had
heard OF many others.
Tells Experience.
"A member OF the house of repre-
sentatives," said Fields, told me a
few days ago that during his visit
10 France arrangements were made
by army officers to entertain him In
an old royal palace. where Ameri-
can officers were billeted, and upon
learning that ne would spend thai
night at the palace he wired his
young brother. who was "A sergeant
in the army. 10 meet him there and
spend the night with him. The
sergeant came, but the congressman
was notified right away by the army
officers in charge that his brother
could not even so much as enter the
palace with him where they planned
20 give him a reception, because II
was then the quarters OF commits
stoned officers and his brother was
not a commissioned officer. The
congressman said TO them in rel ly:
This - my brother. The same
mother who brought me into the
world brought him into the world /;
the same father who reared me
- - \. L
her OF the congress Of the United
states and ne IS only a sergeant in
The army he is as good as I am.
refuse TO accept your invitation un-
less can take my brother with me.
because / have not seen him for two
years and this is the only oppor-
tunity I shall have to talk with him
while here"
AvnIIs Nothing.
But his explanation availed him
nothing. The officers advised him
most emphatically that his sergeant
brother could not enter. He then
declined their invitation and finally
they provided for him and his broth
roof. little two by four room.
where they spent the night together.
There were no hotel accommoda-
tions 20 be had and the member pre-
ferred the little attic room with his
brother 10 the royal chamber that
had been arranged for him down
among the commissioned gods.
where the private and the sergeant
dare not enter.
The next morning when they
went down for breakfast his brother
was stopped at the door and in
formed that he could not enter be-
cause IL was the officers mess hall.
oh, no; ne could not enter; he must
stop: ne must withdraw. for the
ground upon which he stood was
holy ground that must not under
any circumstances be invaded BY a
soldier who had given his services
20 his country and pledged his life
10 ne protection Of its flag, unless
perchance he wore upon his should
er bar. leaf an eagle or a star -
Talks With Colonel.
Fields said that ne himself. while
in France. talked with a colonel of
the medical department who ex-
planned that he at that time had q
friend, a major. who previous 10 the
war had been a sergeant The
colonel. according 10 Mr. Fields.
said:
Personally we-the major and 7
ARE good friends. They have three