"No Chewing in Ranks"

Secretary of the Navy Wilbur last week, after consulting with the Bureau of Aeronautics, the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the Bureau of Navigation and the Office of Naval Operations, and after mature consideration, issued an order. The order permits -- for the first time since 1911, when it was for bidden -- the sale of chewing gum to sailors in the stores aboard ship.

In 1911 gum was removed from the list of articles permissible for sale in ships' stores. The action was taken on the recommendation of Captain, now Rear Admiral, Wil liam F. Fullam. Mr. Fullam called attention to the fact that men were often penalized for chewing gum in ranks or at quarters. He argued: "If men are encouraged to form this habit on board ship, the Navy deliberately invites them to do something one minute for which they may be punished the next. This is not right."

Gum manufacturers argued that it was no worse to sell chewing gum on shipboard than to sell chewing tobacco, which has always been sold. They argued that a piece of chicle, delicately flavored and injected into the mouth of a gob (except when in ranks) not only was harmless, but promoted efficiency and "good morals." It was Senator McKinley, lame duck from Illinois, who finally prevailed upon the higher officers of the Navy to believe these arguments. At least one of Senator McKinley's constituents (William Wrigley Jr. of Chicago) grinned broadly. He has always been in favor of good morals in the Navy.