The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-15

Jack Reads of at Least One Good
American Patriot Who Was Born
in Germany.
Mother. what is conscientious
objector?"
How is the expression used ?"
asked Eleanor looking up from her
work
Why, in the paper here ii tells
about young man who was drafted
and ordered to Fort Sheridan. and
when the troops left has was not on
hand They arrested him and brought
him before a judge, and his defense
was he was conscientious objector."
In this case a conscientious obiec-
tor means Stacker, a man who re-
fuses to do his plain duty for his
country. What did they do with him ?"
'Why'-the boy referred TO the pa
per the father of tine young man
came with HIM 10 court and tue .ath-
K. said:
l am German born, and Ger
many is full of the tender asso cations
OF my childhood But this lis my
adopted country and / am for it. This
IS the country that has given me the
chance l could not have IN Germany.
This is a land of freedom and there
the poor Ian was anything Iut rec If
my boy will not do his duty and fight
for the land OF his birth, let lie go in
his place. l at least am an Ameri-
can
THAT was fine OF the old man"
Interrupted Eleanor. Go on; what did
they do about it?'
The judge explained that no such
arrangement could be made, but COM
mended the fathers sentiments, >
continued Jack lie told the boy
hot ~. -f.a.-f Nl1Ias1 V-rPo
and that If he got his deserts he would
be shot for a coward, but that as he
was young he would be given another
chance If he would report at once
or duty al Fort Sheridan and smother
his troublesome conscience he would
follow the matter no further at this
time, but he would keep a record of
the case, and if any further trouble
was made he would have the young
man courtmartialed. The youth sui
lenly agreed to this arrangement, and
he was led out of court by the officer
who will accompany him TO camp, -
Jack laid down the paper.
Il pity that old man who is made
to blush for such a cowardly son"
said Eleanor after a pause.
IF the father was true to the coun-
try how did it come that the son
would not do his duty?" asked Jack.
TT is a strange case. Most boys
if their fathers are loyal to- the gov
eminent are patriotic, but there are
some renegades who have not the
excuse of hearing disloyal talk at
home Probably he thinks he is much
smarter than his father He has got
ten in with a bunch of slackers in all
probability and he may have been the
only one of the crowd drafted and
they advised him to resist the draft.
There is a great deal OF such work
done, but the government is taking
steps to put a stop to all such &C
tivities. l am glad of it. There is no
place for free speech of a traitorous
character when the country is en-
gagged in a war. Enemies at home
can do, an -incalculable amount of
harm
II should think it would have been
the other way around that the father
would have been for. Germany and the
son for the land where he was born,
said Jack thoughtfully.
''One would think So" replied the
mother, but the father remembered
the oppression of the old country and
the young man was too ignorant to
appreciate the blessings of free land.
Some people have to lose freedom to
| be made to appreciate it,
ITO no continued