Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-01-18

story calculated to obstruct the work
OF the Red Cross without any effort
on your part to ascertain the truth
or falsity of the story. You are
aware of the various organizations
engaged in patriotic work through
which loyal citizens may find oppor-
tunity to give practical expression of
their loyalty. You have told the
council that you are a loyal citizen
of the United States, but you testify
that you have not subscribed to the
Liberty Bonds nor to the Red Cross
nor to the army Y. NJ c. A., nor
have you and the members of your
family given time or money to any
OF those activities which enlist the
support of loyal men. On the con-
trary, even on your own statements,
YOU are circulating reports calculat-
cd to hinder and obstruct work naces-
sary for the military success of this
country.
/ feel that you should be advised
that before this citation was issued
the council of defense referred this
matter to the proper officers of the
department of justice of the United
States. Had you not appeared here
in response to the citation or had you
aggravated your offense by showing
a recalcitrant spirit, it would have
been the duty of the chairman of
his council to take necessary action
to have a criminal complaint laid
against you under the laws of the
United States.
-" l deem it my duty to further adj
wise You that the council of defense
has no authority to compound or
compromise an offense against the
laws of the United States and you
must distinctly understand that this
council will not undertake to do that.
Put if you care to make a public
apology for your conduct and to give
4 public pledge to refrain from sim
liar conduct, the council has conclud-
ID that it will accept such a state
ment from you and, so far as the
council is concerned no further pro-
"ecdings will be taken. The council
is of the opinion that if you follow
this course the department of justice
will not be disposed on its own initi-
atiye to take action against you con-
corning the offense as to which the
council has heard evidence today
However, you must understand that
the department of justice will deter
mine its own course in that matter
and all that the council can do is to
recommend that you be not proceed
ed against further
AT the conclusion of the chair
mans statement the defendant said
that he had not intended to hinder
the Red Cross by his statements or
to obstruct the military work of the
country and that he would make
such an apology and give such pledge
as the council required
Investigate Other Cases
ut is understood that the council
is investigating a number of other
reports of disloyal speech or conduct.
1t is the intention of the council as
each case arises to take the matter
up with the department of Justice
If any case is found in which the ends
of justice clearly require the making
of criminal complaint in the first
instance, that course will be fol-
lowed and the offender will be APP
pretended by the federal officers. In
other cases where the offense may
have been committed partially in
ignorance or under eXtenuating cir
cumstances, the accused will first be
cited before the council of defense
and there given hearing. If the
person cited refuses to appear or up
on his appearance displays clearly
diSiOVa1 shirt thp mattar will ha re-