New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-09-26
Against the Government.
(From the New York Journal of
Commerce.)

Commerce.)
1t may be necessary to make an ex-
ample of some of the leaders who are
attempting to organize subjects of the
government of the United States SO as
to hamper and obstruct it's action
while engaged in war for the defence
of free government against the designs
of despotism. So far as their efforts
may be successful they will be treason
a Bile in effect and deserve to be treated
as such. The leading organization for
conducting pacifist activity avowedly
"along new and aggressive lines as
sumes the pretentious title of the
Peoples Council of America. 1t is said
that 100000 of persons " who OPP
pose the war are to be enrolled i'm
mediately," and further recruits to
the same cause are to be sought by
"a systematic propaganda which will
extend to every city, town and ham,
let in the country A conference has
been held in this city since the flas-
Goes at Minneapolis and Chicago. it IS
said with more zest than ever Pro-
fessor Nearing to devote his entire
time to the work with headquarters in
this city. There is a published state
ment that the work of financing the
peace movement, which is said to en-
tail expense Of 900 a week, will be
vested in the executive committee of
| ffteen.''
| There is another body, more or less
| organized. under the name of the
| American Union Against Militarism,
which, according to published state
nents coming from Washington, has
been addicted to some pernicious false
pretense in it's agitation. The direc-
| tor of it's chief bureau of propaganda
activity. Roger NJ Baldwin by name,
| is reported as having represented to
[ Secretary Baker Of the War depart
| ment that some of his young friends
who had been drafted for the National
! Army had conscientious scruples
| against serving and had excited the
! secretary's sympathy sufficiently to
| induce him to ask to have their cases
! laid before himself. It seems hardly
}, credible that the secretary Of war
! should have encouraged any such APP
\ plication, likely to give him no end of
| trouble, but the result of his alleged
| assurance was that a circular was sent
| over the country advising "cOnscien-
| tious objectors," who make such a
| claim and fail to secure exemption,
| to write to the secretary of war eN-
! planning their refusal to participate
in the war and pointing out that the
| government will be put to useless en-
| pense in trying to train them for that
service" In circular sent out to be
| distributed to these "objectors' they
| are advised as last resort to appeal
| to the president If this appeal is
! rejected, it is said there is no one
| left to appeal to but YOURSELF which,,
| if it has any meaning at ALL is equi-
| IN a6ViSjno actual refusal to
| serve When this use Of the mails was
! discovered order was given to hold
| up the matter virtually promoting a
| spirit of treason in refusing to serve
| the government, until an examination
| could be made to determine the facts
| and their significance and a decision
| could be rendered. An effort is being
! made by some prominent and pre-
| sunably conscientious pacifists to have
| this ban removed and the treason
| breeding stuff allowed to be scattered
| over the country.
| The executive authority of the
| United States has been and still is very
| considerate of the right of freedom of
| thought and of speech, and in time Of
| peace equally regardful Of the right Of
| action within the limits Of the civil
| law. Our people have been so &C
| customed to this liberty that many of
them fail to realize the vast difference
! that comes over the country when it
is at war