The Washington herald., 1918-06-01

TO BE APPLIED
0BJECYORS
Maj. Stoddard, Judge Mack
and Dean Stone Inquiry
Board.

Secretary of War Baker yesterday
announced the appointment OF a
board of inquiry to consider the cases
of all conscientious objectors. The
members are:
Mai. Richard c. Stoddard OF the
Judge Advocates once. chairman;
Federal Judge Julian W. Mack, OF
Chicago. and Dean II. F. Stone. OF
the Columbia University Law School
Hereafter all conscientious oojec-
tors will be segregated at Fort Lea
yenworth, Kans., but the board OF IN
quiry will Immediately visit a num-
Der Of camps where some are now de-
tanned. Special provision has already
been made whereby objectors. held to
be sincere in their attitude, may De
furIoughed without pay from the
government for agricultural service.
These men must agree to accept for
their labor a sum not in excess OF
the pay of a private, plus sustenance.
Conscientious objectors," says the
War Departments statement, though
their numbers have been relatively
small, have presented a problem to
the War Department, and the present
instructions are based on several
months study"
While dealing kindly with objectors,
the War Department, IL was MADE
ploin, will not stand for any nonsense
from uItrarabid long-haired objec-
tors, who claim their humanitarian
principles are such that they cannot
associate in any manner with war
work.
Rights Respected.
says the statement. "an impression
prevails that they may in The near
future be discharged from military
service and relieved from responsible
ity to the government as a result OF
their attitude.
such is not the fact and Under no
circumstances will this action be
taken in the case of men otherwise
competent to perform military service.
Their rights of individual conscience
will be respected, but in Justice TO the
soldiers who are willing and anxious
to risk their lives in defense Of the
right, men refusing to perform any
service whatever under the provisions
of the selectiye service act can not
expect to avoid the responsibility for
an attitude which is shared by only
an extremely small proportion of
their fellow countrymen, much less
expect TO receive any privileges not
accorded to others"
The government intends to keep a
strict watch on the conduct Of OBJ
jectors who are allowed to enter agri-
cultural service. Provision is made
for a monthly report, from a disinter-
ested source, as to the manner in
which they perform their labor, and a
furIough will be automatically ter
minated uDon receipt of word that the
objectOr is shirking. No furloughs
will be granted unless the objector
first pleads for the service. In eX'
Ceptional cases, the board of inquiry
may recommend furloughs for service
IN France in the Friends Reconstruc'
Iion Unit.
Must Obey Orders.
II an objector is preferred a fur
Tough and refuses to accept ii. hi!
status becomes that of a private
soldier. and he will be required Il
carry out all orders given him. Dis
obedience means court-martial, land
conviction means Imprisonment il
the disciplinary barracks.
Pending the fnaI decision OF eaef
case as it is brought to the atten.
tion Of the board of inquiry. tht
following regulations are precrib'
ed for obtectors.
Every man in camp, as q matter
OF public health. shall keep him.
self clean and his body in good con-
dition through appropriate exer'
else. Men who decline to perform
military duty are expected to pre-
pare their own food.
Men, who either at their locaI
board or to their commanding Of
fiCer. record themselves as consci.
entioUs objectors, shall not be re-
quilted to bear arms. But, IL pen.
ding fnal decision of his status he
shall decline to perform duties un-
der military direction he shall re-
Ceived punitive treatment for such
conduct.
In the assignment Of any soldier
to duty, il was announced, whether
combatant or noncombatant, the War
Department recognizes no distinc,
tion between service in the United
States and service abroad.