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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

ZONES OF MORALITY TO SURROUND ARMY CAMPS

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2402

SECRETARY BAKER WARNS CITY MAYORS TO ENFORCE MORALITY ZONES AROUND ARMY CAMPS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, August 16, 1917, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker* warned the mayors of cities located near U.S. Army camps that "they will be held responsible for maintenance of wholesome moral conditions in their communities."

The Secretary's letter to the mayors added that if "the desired results cannot be attained," he would not hesitate "to move the camps to other sites."

Attached to each letter was a copy of the laws and regulations governing the camp areas.  The regulations included the setting of a 5 mile zone around the camps where "immorality" could not exist.  Beyond these zones, however, the federal government would be watching to make sure any immoral activities were "suppressed."

*Newton Diehl Baker, Jr. (1871-1937) was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia & graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1892.  NDB graduated from Washington & Lee School of Law in 1894.

Baker served as City Solicitor & later Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio & as the 47th Secretary of War 1916-1921.  On the day he was announced as War Secretary, he said "I don't know anything about this job."

SOURCE

"Baker Orders Moral Zones About Camps," The Chicago Daily Tribune, August 17, 1917


Newton Baker
Secretary of War
Photo by George Grantham Bain