The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-07-07
USE CONv|CTS FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE
w. Huyette Suggests an Idea
Worthy of Consideration

-'~Mr. William Huyette has a plan
which he is taking up with Con-
gresham Charles F. Booher of
Missouri, for mobilizing the inmates
of the penitentaries throughout the
United States for military duty in
case the Mexican situation developes
into war. The plan, he says, is orr
ginal with him but since he has
written to Congressman Booher he
learned that warden in neighbor-
ing state had suggested the idea
and had even gone so far as to get
an expression from the convicts as
to their attitude in the matter. 1t
is somewhat surprising to learn
that almost without exception they
were ready to volunteer their SER
vices.
Of course it is not Mr.. Huyette's
idea to take the convicts indiscrimi-
nately but to have careful report
made out from the prison records
as to the character of the individual
and if his past department would
justify giving him the opportunity,
he would be allowed to fight for his
country and be given an honorable
discharge at the end Of his term of
enlistment, providing the service he
had rendered his country might
warrant the discharge.
There is no question but that
there are thousands of criminals
within the prison walls who, if put
under military training, could fight
as we'll as any other men. If they
had the additional incentive of
fighting for their liberty as we'll as
for their country, there would be
no good reason for deserting as they
would have everything to gain by
finishing their term of service.
Probably one hundred thousand men
would be a conservative estimate
as to the number of prison recruits
who could be put into fit condition
for service-rather a fair sized
army in itself.
The first question that naturally
arises in ones mind is that of de-
sertion. Everyone knows that
death is the penalty for desertion
from the army in time of war.
But even with this severe penalty,
desertion from the regular army
has been known to occur. So
that even if a few Of the prison
soldiers were to desert the great
majority if given a chance to choose
between being reinstated to full
citizenship after the war or becom-
ing a fugitive from justice would
unquestionably choose the former
course.
There is disagreeable side to
the question. It has always been
considered an honor for one to be
I"yiyen an opportunity to fight for
~ country. To allow criminals
\ !, distinguished service would
u obably arouse some i'll feeling
among the regularly enlisted men,
but after all, wouldn't convicts
make just as good targets as any
other class of men? In time of
war the best physical specimens of
manhood are sent to the front first
and in case of a prolonged fight
and costly one in regard to the
number of lives lost, these good
men are taken away from the nation
and the physically unfit are left.
Modern warfare has developed
into such an efficient method of
slaughter that men when turned in.
to soldiers are looked upon as SO
much necessary material for the
machine guns to consume. A con.
vict is an expense to the state that
takes care of him. He is of NO
good to anyone. Why not use him
and in that way save a good man
who would otherwise have to serve