The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-08-28
EXEMPTING THE RELIGIOUS.

Is it lust to exempt from military service men VINO
possess conscientious scrupes against war; while oter
are forced into the ranks of the army many against
wills? This subject has been brought up by the rev
Robert Whitaker California minister, VINO pfesentSl
these questions:
Is it constitutional or is it in accord with COM
/ mon Justice that minister who believes in war, as
multitudes of ministers do, should be exempt from
conscrption when another man, who is not minis
ter and who does not believe in war; is forced to go
to war in violation OF his conscience!
Is it constitutional or is it in accord with COM
mon justice, that young man who is member OF
Quaker church should be recognized by our govern
ment as having rights of conscience, when are not
allowed to young man who is a member OF the
Cotholic church. the Methodist church, or OF no
church at all?
What business has government to put
premium on being Quaker, to penalize young
for not being Quaker
= And why should ministers and theological stud
ents have special privileges, not allowed to the man
who has church affiliations, and no ecclesiastical
status?
To the foregoing, the Sacramento Bee makes the fol-
lowing reply which The Standard endorses:
"The Rev Whitaker is undoubtedly right in asserting
that ministers are entitled to special exemption from
draft because of their calling He is also right in saying
that who has conscientious scpes and has asso-
cated himself with few others of similar belief is not
entitled to exemption against the individual with SINH
lar scrupes who has not joined church or organization
with opposition to as of its tenets 1t is fair to
cOncede that the CONSUMPTION act in the matter indicated
is not entirely just The Rev. Whitaker is wrong, how
ever when he makes this apparent injustice of the act
justification for his in urging young men who
claim conscientious scrupes against scrpton to 60
to jail rather than accept draft.
"There is doubtless other defects in the law To en-
courage citizens decline to obey it, however, is not only
treason but should be sely punished such if this
nation is to organize its forces in time to be effective in
struggle which involves perpetuy of national freedom
There are, in fact many defects in the conscrp-
ton law that ought to be replaced at by universal
service. But until is replaced it should be Loyalty
upheld by ALL Its defects will help to educate to the
necessity for and the justice of universal service
The privilege allowed conscientious directors should be
modified When declares he is opposed, by relig-
belief to war; he should not be entirely freed from
sponsiby to do his part in defense of the government
man may believe that war is contrary the laws OF
God and yet if his home is invaded by desperate burg
lar he will feel conscientious scruple in fighting off
the thug There desperate fellows at present attack
ing this nation and that bombing and fasting
aiming to eventually destroy the homes of America. What
is the difference whether you call this burglary!
If of the religious sect opposed to objects tt
serving in the trenches he should be made to do his par
in other way to sustain the nation He should bt
enlisted to do his portion of the heavy work of maintain
ing the existence of free peopeThe Ogden Standard
HIGH COST CLOTHING.