The Cordova daily times., 1916-07-08
"CONSC|ENT|OU $ OBJECIORS"
 HkED


 once of the Associated Press) - The heated feelings kindled by war pre-, | vent the Conscientious Objector" to military service from being as heroic figure in the perspective of the present times as he may be in some more idealistic age. Great Britain Is the only nation having compulsory military service which excuses those whose conscience forbid them to take human life. Notwithstanding the par liamentary act which recognizes either the injustice, or the impolicy, of fore ing such men to bear arms. the Con scientious Objectors" are objects of general derision and suspicion.
 The terms of the military service act on this point are general and rather vague. It grants exemption lon the ground of conscientious ob. jection to the undertaking of combat. ant service" This leaves the decision of what constitutes conscientious ob- jection principally in the hands of the tribunals to which men who wish to escape military service must apply. Naturally the decisions of different boards have been colored largely by the personal views and prejudices of their members. Some of these courts have been very liberal in accepting protestations of scrupies against fight ing, while others subject applicants to severe cross examination, or ridi- cule, and exempt very few.
 Members of the Society of Friends, better known as Quakers, and of a religious body called Christadelphians, generally have been excused from the army. But others who cannot prove that they belong to any religious sect which is opposed to war, whose claims are based merely on their personal scruples, have a harder time. In the popular belief, the claim of conscien- tious objection is the chief loOphole for towards and shirkers, and this causes the ignominy in which object ors are held.
 Many conscientious objeetors have disregarded entirely the summons to the army. Then when brought before the recruiting tribunals they have been turned over to the military courts, where they have been dealt with practically as deserters. Many have been sentenced to prison, sey- eral to terms at hard labor of two years, and others to lesser terms. ranging down to two months or mere detention, the mildest form of impris- onment. The number of objectors taken into military custody up to May 31 was 769. Of these 16S had been court-martialled, and no released. The others were waiting their trials. The statue of these men has been the subject of much discussion in parlia- ment and in the newspapers, and charges of cruel treatment have been made freely by their friends. These charges were made regarding men who had claimed to be conscientious objectors, and whose claims were vetoed by the tribunals.
 AS result of the agitation. the gov ernment has decided that men under going punishment for disobedfence on account of alleged conscientious scruples shall be transferred to civil prisons. and have their cases re- viewed by judicial committee, which will have power to exempt them from military duty, or give them some other work of national importance.
 In the course of a discussion fin the House of Commons, MT. Rowntree, a Quaker member from York, said that most of the complaints of persecu- tion and cruel treatment by the mili- tary were levelled against non-com- missioned officers. He believed that eighty per cent of the objectors had been well treated. The under secre- tary for war, MT. Tennant, asserted that most of the se-called persecution had been mere "horse-play," which 1t was difficult to deal with officially.
 Undoubtedly objectors who were forced into the army have been hazed by their comrades. One of the anti conscription societies has compiled letters written to relatives and friends by objectors reciting their experi- ences. One letter read
 Got here about 3:30, and was taken before the quartermaster-sergea who coaxed a lot, as we'll as other officers.
 T refused all particulars. would not move from the room, so was very