The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-27

discharges on the face is the best given
in the army and no reflection on their
military conduct.
t.Nevertheless am determined to go
thru with demand for a thoro airing
of the obstructionist element in the
very heart of the war department" he
continued.
Officers We're Hampcrcd.
st feel it my patriotic duty to bring
to light the fact that officials of the
war department have consistently
hampered the building of an army.
major White and 1 now are civil
ians and are not bound to secrecy, as
when we were army officers. We
have decided, however, to withhold
details of the pacifist propaganda I'M
til We leave camp"
Major White would not deny he
was prepared to ask a complete in
vestigation, but would not tell of his
future plans until he had consulted
his father.
II have much Matchmaking evil
dence against the war department" he
said, but just what way I will pro-
coed I cannot say now. But some
thing will be done. that is a certainty"
Major White also called attention to
the fact that demand for an inves-
tigation at Washington could not be
considered a personal matter with him.
He feels that the country at large is
not interested personally in either one
of them, but that the people are in
terested in the big question of the al
legged war department favoritism for
the I. W. W.-Socialist element in the
army, who sought in and out of the
army to hamper the prosecution Of
the war.
Z Letter of President.
That war department officials were
under the spell of some pacifist influ-
py,c &c ~ nv @
details of the departments position
are regarded as extremely interesting.
Already one sensational feature has
developed in the making public at
Camp Funston of the letter sent by the
president to Upton Sinclair, Socialist
leader. That letter said:
The White House. Washington, July So
191S.-My Dear Mr.. Sinclair: Referring to
your recent communication, the president
has asked me to invite your attention to
received from the secretary OF war. Sin
cerely yours,
Secretary to the President.
War Department, Washington. July 20,
191S.-Dear Mr.. President: Thank you
for sending me Upton Sinclair's interesting
communication.
Z 1 think. however, he should be informed
that We are now doing absolutely all that
public opinion will stand in the interest Of
conscientious DIRECTORS and others whose
views do not happen to coincide with those
OF the vast majority OF their fellow coun-
trymen.
have given directions that all the
court-martial cases having to do with
these people shall be carefully and SYM
pathetically reviewed, in the light of
the experience gained by the special
board Of inquiry, consisting of Judge
Mack, Dean Stone and Major Stoddard.
The. terms of Imprisonment which con-
scientious objections may, in the. last
analysis, be compelled to serve, will be
served in the disciplinary barracks at
Fort Leavenworth, where the men have
wholesome outdoor life and are kept
busy upon things that are worth doing.
Most of the conscientious DIRECTORS who
declined to accept military service in any
form however. are now engaged in farm
work at a priyate's pay thru cooperation
between the department of agriculture and
the war department.
T do not know how many Of what Mr..
Sinclair calls political prisoners are now
under the control of the department of
justice. but if you care to have, me do SO,
could find out from the attorney general
whether there are any prisoners under his
direction whom he thinks it wise to have
transferred to Fort Leavenworth.
lLF Respectfully,
az NEWTON D. BAKER
-s+a'e Secretary of War.