The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-03
BLUE LAWS SET
ASIDE FOR
MARINES
culpeper JaiIs 6ootIeggers and
Gives Leathernecks Big
Welcome.

ORANGE, Va, Sept S--Mer.
chants of Culpeper were sending
out emergency calls to nearby
towns for food and merchandise
supplies this morning as the United
States Marine Evolutionary Force
began it's exodus toward Rapidan
station, fifteen miles away.
The 5000 Marines camped here
were paid off yesterday afternoon,
and last night they literally bought
out the town. Eating houses were
swept clean Of provisions by 0
o'clock last night, an hour before
closing time, while general mer-
chandise stores had o tremendous
run OF business. Davis street, Gull
peper's main thoroughfare, was
choked with khaki clad men until
a late hour last night.
BOOtIeggers All In Jail.
The marines were given liberty
until reveille this morning and no
guards were maintained at the
camp. A conflict in authority was
foreseen this morning over Mayor
Alden Bells order which set aside
the strict. Virginia blue laws for the
first time in the memory Of Gull
peper's citizens, and allowed all Of
the business houses to stay open
yesterday.
Last night at 10 o'clock Sheriff
Nash visited the stores and told
them they were violating state
blue laws and ordered them to
close Citizens were debating this
morning whether the mayor pos
sessed the right to order the blue
laws set aside even in the case
when a friendly army passes
through the municipality.
For the last two weeks Sheriff
Nash has been maintaining q rigid
watch against bootleggers In antici-
patton OF the visit Of the marines.
When the Leatherneclks arrived
the town jail was filled with boot
flcefs.
Citizens Praise DeCOrum.
Although sixty military police
patrolled the Culpeper streets until
midnight, no disorder was re-
ported. The Marines conducted
themselves with praiseworthy dec
Drum. Citizens Of Culpeper were
loud In voicing their praise Of the
Leathernecks.
While most OF the citizens were
in camp to witness the motion pic.
ture entertainment and band con-
cert by the Marine Band, the ma
rines themselves went TO town to
spend part Of their pay. Leading
citizens invited the marines to re.
turn next year.
Gray hued skies greeted the
force as It broke camp this morn
ing for the bike to Rapidan. The
long column started the march at
Z o'clock, with the transportation
trucks in the lead. Brig. Gen.
SmedIey q. Butler in command,
had decided to take no more
chancesNof having the trucks ma.
roonAd, and then having to call
back the infantry to help pull the
big machines ouk Of the mud, a.
they had to do last week.
Find ROads Arc Bad.
From now on the truck train
of more than 100 machines will
proceed the infantry column.
The only casualty 30 far was the
burning Of a huge truck . few
roles out OF Culpeper yesterday.
The machine itself was not de.
stroyed, but its superstructure and
cargo were consumed by the flames.
It is reported that largely unim'
proved roads, over which the 60
ing would be difficult faces Me
column this morning. The Leather
necks, however figured they will
not encounter anything worse than
their experience last week which
old campaigners declared was worse
than any march they ever saw In
France.