The daily progressive-miner., 1918-10-23
VIM. BRITT SPEAKS N OWN BEHALF

! ton ] had received. yet at the sam
time told them that they ought NJ
: to make such claims for exemption, a
America wanted not claims for exeu
ption but soldiers.
At about this time received the 70,
lowing telegram from Mr.. ]. Suther
land. secretary of the Alaska Labo
union at Anchorage:
Norwegian citizens here want in
formation how 90 FILL QUESTIONABLE.
aQd claim exemption"
To this l answered by a short tele
gram. stating that full advice was 60
ing forward by mail. then sent Mr.
Suthe land the following Official let
ter. as vice consul of Norway. a yer.
oatim copy of instructions from the
United States government"
Dear Mr.. Sutherland:
In answer to your telegram, / eg
leave &c. submit the following:
L. No Norwegian citizen can be
drafted into the United States army
! If he does not want to-
- man who has taken out his
first papers, or intention papers, is
still \ Norwegian citizen. but subject
to draft.
%. Intentions may, however, be
changed and person with intention
papers may claim and obtain exemp-
ton by making an affidavit that he
does not want to become an American
citizeu-which excludes him from
ever after becoming an American cit.
izen. II l can be of any further as.
sistance to YOU or the boys please
command.
Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM BRITT.
Vice-Consul for Norway"
That letter was sent out in my Of
nclal capacity as vice consul, and I'm.
der the law and my obligations as
vice-consul l was required to give this |
information. but, as a loyal American |
citizen. | wrote, on the same day, a !
personal letter 20 Mr.. Sutherland a |
part g which read:
From the contents OF several let.
ters I have received from Anchorage !
and vicinity am sorry to see that the
spirit OF true Americanism does no,
seem to have permeated their minds
10 they understand the full meaning
u this war. They don't seem to under.
stand that a German victory would
make the world impossible to live in
or any liberty loving person"
maintain that that paragraph alone
'roves positively where l stood and
'here ] stand today, for true Ameri-
anism |,
To everyone who came to my Office I
ask for my assistance in filing out 7
missionaries l stated that it was /
ne duty OF everyone. whether Ameri- t
an citizen or foreigner to help de- i
eat Germany and Kaiserism. In h
roof Of this assertion l set forth i
tatemen; made by DR.. P. J. Malone, S
Juneau, who now holds a commits. s
ION as first lieutenant in the United c
tates army and which statement is /;
lso signed by Mr. George Burford, F
usiness man of Juneau: c
This is to testify that / was in .
lie Office of Mr.. VIM. Britt on several v
ccas'ons when he was asked for help Il
ming missionaries properly. I
Nv and heard him filing question. e.
aires according to dictations and y
lshes OF persons who called for in.
'rma'ion and help. On occasions. h
hen such persons claimed exemption II
II !arious reasons, Mr.. Britt did his Of
est to convince them that it was the
oral duty OF everybody, whether cit. re
ems OF the United States or not, to es
sht Germany to the bitter end. On e.
Ca sions l also heard him say that a m
an making living here should be- II
me citizen and support our nation in
~ -iSA'Ah6 Lie Ddttic iOE ali liberty III
wing people. an
tS'gned) "P. J. MALONE, Pc
Juneau, Alaska, ut
August 30, 1918 re
GEO. BURFORD." tt
! also hold written statements from IA
number of men who are now wear. ha
the uniform Of the United States Sc
my, in which they state that / as. wi
ted them to fill out their question. sis
Tres, and that impressed upon them ap
necessity and desirability of every tn;
e joining the great force which die
lst down Germany and kaiserism. is
Mr.. Russell. from the public plat. CT
IN. has charged that was removed die
m the once nj vice consul Of Nor. ne
y. That is true. Former Govern. the
J. F. A. Strong. who was bitterly Cd VIII
'ed to me personally. at the solicit
ion o. Mr.. Russell and others who tai
re also opposed to me politically to- ele
her with one Captain Hunt, mill. div
' aid to the governor. asked tho COZ
to department that be removed Gel
'ause OF the work ! was compelled / pie