The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-16
/. L. Boutwell, Seized at e. p.
Depot This Morning.
He Is Socialist and Attended
Big Anti-Draft Meeting.
GAVE SOLDIERS PAMPHLETS
Article Quoted Jack LOndOn's
"A Good Soldier"
"Free America" Spoken of in a
Questionable Manner.

| 1. T. Boutwell,, of 90S Madison
! street, was arrested at the Union Pa
cific station at 9:15 this morning by
| officer F. n. Scott, charged with cir
| culating seditious literature among
United States soldiers. He was ex-
amined by Chief Deputy United States
Marshal C. C. Jackson. He will be
| held for investigation, while District
Attorney Fred Robertson, who is in
Kansas City passes on the case. "A
report will be made some time today.
When arrested by officer Scott,
Boutwell, who is a railroad brakeman,
was passing small sheets of printed
literature thru the windows of a spe-
cial train loaded with soldiers, which
had stopped for a few minutes at the
station.
Boutwell, ADMITS his act and as
serts that he has broken no law. This
is not the first time he has been in
volved in such activities. According
to Deputy Marshal Jackson, Boutwell,
admitted this morning that he was
present at the famous DR.. Eva Hard
ing-Ike Gilberg session, for the activ-
tiles of which several persons are
waiting trial at the present time.
Boutwell, asserted that he approved the
purpose of the Harding meeting.
What do you think would happen
to the nation if a majority of people
we've so disloyal as to help the kaiser
6efeat enlistments in the United States
a~Tly?' Jackson asked. Boutwell, lid
rot know.
Old Topeka Citizen.
lie says he has lived in Topeka foT
til rty years, and claims to be we'll
known here. He was neatly dressed,
tho according to officers, he bore The
e1"marks of crank
Boutwell, may be indicted for Gin
citing rebellion and Instruction" I'M
der United States statute which pro-
viGes, that anyone who "incites, sets
OF. foot, assists or engages in any re-
beilion or insurrection'' may be i'm
p1 soned for not more than ten years.
l. ie not thought that a treason charge
VIII be brought.
ed to pass contained a description hy
the late Jack London, famous writer
ano Socialist visionary, purporting 70
set forth the true character of a sJl-
die1. 1t pictures him as cold-b1ood-
ed murderer, a soulless mechanism,
"a blind, heartless, soulless murderous
machine" according to the leaflet.
1t is headed Censored by the Post
master General" with a short ex-
PLANTATION that Mr.. Burleson had bar
red London's description of "A Good
Soldier" from the mails. Then fol-
lows "A good Soldier by Jack Lon
don" 1t reads:
Quotes Jack London
Young man, the lowest aim in
your life is to be a good soldier. The
good ol1ier never tries to distinguish
right from wrong. He never thinks;
never reasons; he only obeys. If he
is ordered to fire on his fellow citi
liens, on his friends, On his neigh
bors, on his relatives, he ObeyS with
out hesitation. If he is ordered to
fire down a crowded stree1 when the
poor are clamOring for bread, he
obeys, AMI sees the gray hairs of age
stained with red and tire life-guShinE
from the breasts of women, feeling
neither remorse nor sympathy. If he
IS ordered off as one OF a firing squad
to execute a hero or henefactor, he
fires witho ut hesitation, tho he knows
the bullet will pierce the noblest heart
that ever Leaf in human bt east.
"A good soldier is a blind, heartless,
soulless numbering machine. He is not
a man. He is not even brute, for
brutes only kill in self defense. All
, that is human in him, all that is di-
vine in him. all that constitutes tho
man, has been sworn away when he
took the enlistment oath. His mind,
conscience. aye. his very soul arc il
the keeping of his officer No man
can fall lower than a soldier-it is 4
depth beneath which we cannot go.
Is Out of Jail.
Boutwell, communicated with Ed
Rooney, his attorney, and after con-
SultatOn between Rooney ana y. u
Jackson, Boutwell, was released in the
custody of Rooney with the under
standing that he would be produced
at any moment the government may
call for him. Since then Jackson has
4 been communicating with Fred
Robertson, United States district at
torney at Kansas City and further
action will depend upon Robertson's
/ instructions.
Robertson requested that all the in
formation possessed by the United
States marshaPs office be forwarded
in writing altho the more important
matters have already been given to
b IN, Z h a