The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-09-28
WHITMAN COUNTY HAS
MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY
LACROSSE MAN RENO Noes
CITIZENSHIP RATHER THAN
SERVE IN ARMY

CLAUS Filan, aged %, Norwegian
farmer of the Lacrosse district, in
Whitman county, Washington, ap-
peared before the draft board of
Whitman county a few days ago and
renounced his intention of becoming a
citizen of the United States, taking
this action in order to avoid serving
in the American army.
Congress has enacted law pro-
viding that citizen or subject of a
country neutral in the present war
who has declared his intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States
shall be relieved from liability to
military service upon his making a
declaration, in accordance with such
regulations as the president may pre-
scribe, withdrawing his intention to
become a citizen of the United States,
which shall operate and be held to
cancel his declaration of intention to
become an American citizen and shall
forever debar him from becoming a
citizen of the United States.
This law allowed Filan to evade
the draft, but he did not escape with
out one Of the most bitter denuncia-
tions ever heaped upon a mans head.
This was delivered by Sheriff Nc
Clure, chairman of the local board,
and before he had finished Filan was
in tears. Sheriff Mcclure said:
"You have by your actions today
escaped the military draft of this
country, but while doing so you have
implanted upon your name stain
which can never be removed, and if |
had my way you would be relieved of
everything and left with nothing but
what you actually possessed when you
came to this country; then l would
bass bassd ~ sfsssa ssssa sasssf aad
sent back to the country whence you
came.
SsYou came to the United States
and have enjoyed the privileges of
this great free country; you have
prospered as you could not have done
in your native land, and now when
your adopted country is in danger
you are too cowardly to take up arms
in her defense. You want to live in
peace, till our soil and accumulate
4 bank account, but while you are do
ng this other boys are laying down
their lives to insure the peace you
wish to enjoy. They are offering the |
supreme sacrifice and you are per-
,ectly content to stand aside and let |
hem fight your battles for you.
"Other boys from your community, |
If your own nationality, have an
;wered the call, because they were
100 manly to shirk duty and evade
mans part simply because the gov |,
,rnment allows them this prerogative
f they wish to take advantage of it.
"Today you have renounced your
Illegiance TO this country; rather than
light in her defense you prefer to live
IS man without country, for you
AVE barred yourself from ever be-
olning a citizen of the United States.
you have saved yourself from mill 4
ary duty, but you have heaped ig-
ominy and disgrace upon your own h
cad and you deserve to be ostracized
ot only by your countrymen but by
very liberty-loving American citizen. II
he boy who lies wounded unto death
pom the field of battle suffering the
orments of hell would not trade
laces with you and undergo the tor
IRE of his conscience through life
me. n
"a true American is never afraid to {
ace the enemys fire, for man has |
ut one life to give and he could
ever offer it in greater cause than
xists today"