El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-22
INABILITY TO FIGHT FOR NATION
Is PART OF CRIMINALS PENALTY

Arizona newspaper recently set forth editorialy
the opinion that while convics and other prisoners
in this country ought not to be taken into the army
70 become comrades Of and to corrupt the young men OF
high character who have been sent from their homes to
fight foI righteous peace for the world they nevertheless
ought be taken into military service 1t suggested
that separate units be made Of the criminals that they
might be sent into the front lines to kill be killed. but
at same time not to contaminate other soldiers.
This expression drew quite lengthy and remarkably
vel written letter from who signed himself crini-
nast presumably student Of criminals It seemed to
be the product Of remarkably intelligent convict or Of
someone equally clever in the wardens office possibly
81 the governors office. He demuTed to the suggestion
that SEPARATE organization Of criminals be formed and
Be sent into the front line trenches to kill be killed. de-
a5g IL effect that the idea more cruel than kaiser
He also made convincing statement Of the courage Of
'aibds" in warfare, pointing to the Foreign Legion Of
France organization composed largely Of the apaehes
Of Paris but having most distinguished battle record
BE gave figures French and English convicts In war
enumerated battles in which they had served with honor
and gave the numbers OF those Who ne sd nao earned
decorations for distinguished conduct under fire The
writer's whole argument that while prisoners should
not be formed into separate units they wouo unoouoeo
be glad with their fellow eountmen and would,
given the opportunity do with honor to themselves
and their country He mentioned that association of
prisoners had besought government to allow them to
enter the service pedgng to return to prison and serve
the remainder Of their sentences at the end Of the war;
g they shcuid be alive ar that time.
Both the editorial and the answer thereto are open to
objection, the former the ground that if is good
enough fight for his country and die for it he good
enough to be signed out moral leper and herded
away others Of his countrymen- If he is not fit TO
Be their comrade he is not to be called upon TO oe1end
their
TIE objection the cminalists argument is that the
srmy regulations specifically forbid the enlistment Of
criminals Though moral defects harder to detect IN
the recruiting Office than physical defects they equal
bars TO enlistment and just the detection Of obscure
sicsl deficiencies after enlistment causes men be dis
charged from the service those morally deficient
Eeeded the moment the deficiency maniests itself IN
crime That accounts for the numbers Of soldiers sent to
state penitenares and federal prisons Civilians who are
criminals sometimes get into the military service but they
remain after their cinalty manifests itself It
S recognized that high character IS the fundamental
Of good soldier and morally unfit men tend to demoIaze
command t sometimes happens that former criminals
n allied armies perform memorable deeds In action but II
Is question whether their general influence upon their
eorades does net than offset the value Of these
achievements
As for the Foreign Legion Of France it is not to be
SCI down as organization Of criminals the Arizona
crminslist would have believe That would be IN
st 70 the many Americans Of fine character who are
gtng IN the Legion or have fought and died under its
rusrd ana Who into It because it is what its name
signifies, foreign legion II is polyglot Of nationahtles
Many Of It's members sdventuTers soldiers Of for
tune Of wild blood who have followed the profession