The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-01
Tacoma Citizen andArmy
Officer Defend Confer
and Burch Court-Martial


days were dropped from the rolls as
disorders, They were apprehcnded.
Buroh az Detroit. Mich, on or about
August q. 1918, and Confer at Oak.
land. Cal. on or about May .. 1918.
II was alleged that before appre-
hension these men committed "A
series Of crimes. such as passing
worthless checks. robbery. etc. the
total amount involved being about
$4,000, Upon apprehension they
were both returned to Fort stevens.
Oregon. While awaiting trial nurch
was twice convicted Of disobediencc
OF orders. and Confer four times Of
the same offenae. They escaped on
November $. 1918. after ovsrpower.
Ing the guard. whom they securely
bound and gagged. and threatened
with death II he made an cutlery.
They were again apprehendcd IN
Portland. oregon. by the military
police on or about November ne,
1918. and returned 20 Fort Stevens.
Oregon. Upon notification OF their
apprehension tho commanding gen
erai. western department. ordered
them 70 be put IN irons. They were
then tried on joint charges two
charges each for dcHertion In time
OF war, for assault. and attempt TO
escape. Upon conviction thereof
each was sentenced to be dlshonor.
ably discharged and to be confined
at hard labor for tho term OF hls
natural life, A death sentence might
have been legally awarded. The
absence a. desertion covered some
months during time when our
army was preparing actively for
war and when cur soldiers were be-
ms sent to the from, as fas, as
practicable.
From the facts as stated above q
appears that the original article was
based on transformation as to the
offenses OF which the men were
found guilty. IL T. HODGES,
Brigadler-Geaerai. Y. $. Army.
The above letter was written at
the suggestion OF the editor OF The
Star. Tho editor offered TO publish
any statement the war department
or any officers desired 10 make IN
com ectlon with the Confer and
Burch case.
under draft age when they enlisted
ARE sentenced 10 serve the rest o.
their lives In prison.
Needs No Defense
That Is the main fact. The boys
got into a scrape early in their
military career. and one scrapc led
to another. Now they must spend
their young manhood. their prime OF
life. and their old age behind bars.
The star does not care TO quarrel
with the sanc,imonious Tacoma
citizen who addressed his letter TO
the commanding officer at Fort
Stevens and who seeks 10 cast as.
pensions upon tho character OF The
Star. We have him sized up for
exactly what he Ia. Tho Star needs
no defense OF its work In the war.
II stood 100 per cent American on
every Issue. And because IL Is
American 10 the core II wants to
rid the army Of Its present IN.
American and Prussianizcd court
martial system that gives the priv.
ate no trial worthy the name. that
imposes sentences that are out.
rngcous. that breeds hatred instead
OF respect for army law.
Nor is The Star alone In this
fight. There are scores of news.
papers lined up In this fight. and a
considerable number Of congressman
and senator's
We do not expect 10 elicit the sup.
port of such SNUG gentlemen as
'~Tacoma Citizen" who Il Rrobabfy
one OF those who would throttle any
attempt for n greater and broader
democracy: who probably viewed
with alarm our direct election o.
senators, our direct primary system
our initiative and referendum. out
eight-hour day for women. and ouI
social betterments.
What the Issue II
His quarrel In the Confer and
Burch case In that the boys stol'
more than The Star mentioned. lie
US admit II. Let US admit they ar'
now hard boiled eggs" But thinl
OF H. We are taking their lives
from them--for that In what life I'm
prisonment means. Death. no doubt
would be much more merclfui e
them And before they entered thu
servlce--voluntariiy. not conseriptes
they were probably the average
sort OF boy with no criminal record
The star believes army offender
should be punished But they shouls
not be ''railroaded." They shouls
have n fair triai---and their punish
men: must be Just.