New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-18
Enemies Within
Enemies of War
Call Directors
To Mobilize
Union Against Militarism
Uses Bakers Name in Cir
culars-lnquiry Begun
ISts- Corr~spondtnceI


force of conscientious objectors is the
latest form of the activities of the
American Union Against Militarism
] The objects and methods Of this or
ganization have been explained before
in The Tribune, but this latest mani
festation is worthy of special treat
ment.
A short time ago Roger ~ Baldwin,
director Of the civil liberties bureau
of the American Union Against Mill
tarism, with Offices at 20 Fifth Avenue,
went TO Washington to see Secretary
Baker at the War Department. Bald
win told Mr.. Baker that several young
men. friends of Baldwin, who had been
I drafted for the National Army had
conscientious objections to war and
| asked what could be done about their
cases. Mr.. Baker talked sympatheticsl-
ly with Baldwin and instructed him to
lay the cases of Tic young men before
him and he. would take ;hem up.
Baldwin thereupon returned to New
I York and prepared a circular to send
broadcast over the country, one para
graph of which, set in full face type,
reads:
Conscientious obiectors who make
such a claim and fail to secure e1-
emption are advised, at the sugges-
tions of high official in the War
Department, TO write Secretary of
War Newton ID. Baker, at Washing
ton, at once before they are called
into service, explaining their refusal
to participate in war and pointing out
that the government will be put to
useless expense in trying to train
them for that service.
Circular Ends in Threat
This circular was sent out with a
letter which advised conscientious OBJ
jectOrs of the various steps they could
go through to obtain exemption from
military service, beginning with a
claim filed before the examining board
and proceeding through appeal to the
district board to an appeal to the Pres
ident. The last sentence in the letter
read:
"If this last appeal is refused,
there is no one left TO appeal TO but
yourself"
The inference Of this sentence is
plain.
Bit t;sars is zn0ss "a connection with
this circular already mentioned. Il
came TO the knowledge of the postofice
officials, and instructions were asked
as 10 whether il should be allowed to
90 through the mails. The answer was
that it should be held up while in
ouiries were made.
This. of course, came to the knowl-
edge Of Baldwin and his friends, be-
carse the circulars were not reaching
their destination and their army OF
conscientious objectors" was not be
ing added to. The American Union
Against Militarism seeks to learn the
name of every man accepted Tor the
army under the draft and SENDS ltS
literature TO each man, with request
that he enroll on the books OF the
union. When answers were not forth
Coming 10 the latest circulars the union
knew that its mail had been stopped
Through their Offices in the Munsey
Ruildinp in Washington they appealed
70 the Postoffice Department, making
tho statement that "The Secretary OF
war has not only given permission for
these circulars TO be sent out, but ne
has advised it and asked for the Iel-
ters."
Willard Tries to Lift Ban
A brief inquiry developed the facts
with regard to Mr.. Baldwin's visit to
Secretary Baker, and the circulars con
.;.-oE 70 be held up. They are still
feid f,ddeT up, ~ and nd Oswald Garrison Willard
ba. been in Washington to see if he
can can help in putting this little game
over on the War Department and the
In the meantime the American Union
Aaoinst Militarism seems to have gone
a bit too far this time; Its attempt 10 70
override Secretary Baker has had at the :.
attont;or of both the Postoffice Depart
n'sT'i ment and the Department of Justice;
a 'r ririd investigation is being made OF
all its s. activities and afliatiGns' .S;s casa and
I the end is likely to be that aa;.. tins case Sc
"'1i - that the Department OF