New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-09
Should the Felon
Fight ?

~uALy the inmates of penitentiaries
and other penal institutions be COM
y pelled, or allowed, to fight for their
..,, IN the war, under the same con-
US rs free men? This question APP
.r,ntly has been settled for the time
20 by exemption from the draft of those
w., tod of felony. But this exemption, II
nnoars. by no means meets with the APP
"m Eva, of a number of editors, nor, it may
,o;d Of many of the convicts them
selves.
The matter has two angles Of approach
,ho one being the good the army may do
=. convict; the other, the good the con-
=. NAV DO the army; or, stated other
=, the regeneration Of the criminal and
10 use Of man-power now going to waste.
We are informed that England has en-
r,.ei seven thousand convicts in her
mics and that these are reported to have
90, GOOD The record of these male
tors showed some little time ago that
,q0 had been killed in action, 40 died
. wounds Is succumbed TO sickness,
- no fewer than 1850 Of the remain
- had been returned, wounded. Twenty
: che criminals were mentioned in dis
..,,bss: twenty-five others received dis
,rguished service medals, and the most
.;rb1v prized war medal in the British
',9,ice the one that is harder to win than
.rv other in the world-the Victoria Cross
ras bestowed on three of the erstwhile
s.relicts. Surely brave showing, and one
~ which any seven thousand men in the
world might be proud.
When the Hun Hammered at
Irtetia's Gates the Apaches Rose
We are further reminded OF the Apaches,
moved up from the underworld of Paris,
rbose heroism contributed not little to
,sroving back the Hun when he was ham
r,sring at Lutetia's gates. In former days
.,.o convicts were regularly seized by the
MOSS gangs of the navy and forced to
ssrve on British men-of-war.
The point of view Of the felon himself Is
naturally Of great interest, and this has
keen reflected most ably by THE Star-Bul-
Istn" the official organ Of the prisoners OF
Sing Sing. Commenting editor!ally, this
raper says eloquently:
40 some the echoes Of war and the gl-
rs-,ic organizations Of America 10 parIci-
r,to therein make not a ripple in the even
tenor Of their life behind prison bars. others
ave ,rstre-ic and hopeless, bowed down by
age or the weight Of heavy, long years OF
sentences vet 10 be served. But others are
ebeerful-ayc sarguine-that way VIII YET
r, foprd 10 allow Of their participation along
lines Of eHGeavor best calculated to meet
,ber coudition-past, present and Tor the
future. And they arc not the insists by any
means.
ON so FAR as the restrictions of their con
4rs-,,r. auow-to the full extent Of the
pstr.otsl that is in them and viii not be
st.lle8 they still struggle against what seem
10 be hopeless odds and endeavor to prove
The stuff that is in them
In q communication to The Tribune
writer offers some extracts from a prIs-
crers letter. in which the desire TO serve
the country is vigorously expressed. and
answering possible objection TO the as
ISOLATION Of convicts with others, the
prisoner is quoted as saying
"Peop,e think the convict would join the
amy 10 escape prison. Here and there one
might. but know there is enough true pa.
triotisr, in prisons, as in general society. II
sincere, intelligent people really think ana
believe that it would be detrimental TO the
country 10 give the prisoners a chance 10
make good with other men IN the army ana
navy, why should not units be formed oil
conyicts and ex-convicts? Ii placed in charge
Of leaders who are both fair and experienced
in military affairs, am ready to prophesy
that such units would compare favorabiy IN
l,yalty and efficiency with any others IN the
service"
Young Fellows With Right Instincts
Who Fell Into Evil Ways
Commenting editorially, THE New York
World" says:
IN considering Katharine B. Dav's.s pea
that criminals be allowed to enlist, some dls-