The Coconino sun., 1919-03-07

sentence to ten years.
 "Now it must appear that this was a serious offense,' said Gen. Ansell. But the facts must be considered as they were to get an insight into the matter. Here was a raw recruit, new to army life, in the turmoil of a kitch- en, quite likely upset by reproof that might have been harshly made and letting his temper get the better of him. For this he was sentenced to forty years in jail.
 "In many instances-I am not cit ing exceptions--the same brutally ex- cessive sentences have been imposed for trivial offenses.
 Making B0sheviki. "Any system that would impose such a sentence as that upon the boy 1 you speak of is un-American," com mented Speaker Thomas. "It would make Bolshevili out of the relatives of man. 1 want to say that the off cer who would act that way to sol dier is a damn fool" ..
 "You don't want that to go upon the record?" suggested Senator Chamberlain.
 "Yes, I do," insisted Senator Thom- as, hotly, q say that officer was a damned fool, and ought shimself to have been court-martialed. Any one imposing such sentence ought to be urt-martialed, too. It is easy to see why in peace times we cannot get men to go into our army"
 The General related in detail the case of a young soldier who went home without leave to see his dying father. He hurried back to camp as soon as his father died and was sen l fenced to death. The sentence was not carried out because of Executive clemency.
 '"You should have court-martialed the court-martial," said Senator Knox { "The court-martial couldn't see the human facts behind that case,' said General Ansell.
 "Whatever became of that boy" Gen. Ansell was asked. He didn't i know.
 "His mother. has probably joined the Bolsheviki,o said Senator Thomas.
 And his father probably has too, in another world" commented Senator Frelinghuysen.
 Injustice in France. A large proportion of the instances of injustice occurred in the United States, but Gen. Ansell cited some of them from France.
 Upon a soldier in France, Gen An sell said, the death sentence had been imposed for declining to drill after L e,,htantal tn m extreme cold for twenty-four hours. He insisted he was not able to stand. Two others were sentenced to death for sleeping on post, after having been on duty for four days with hardly any sleep. Gen. Ansell set these sentences aside, he said, after the war depart ment had declined to act.
 "It must be remembered said Gen. Ansell, "that these men seldom have adequate counsel and don't know how to defend themselves. The gov ernment is represented by able coun- sel, and the offender has all the odds against him."
 As the result of Gen. Ansell's testi- mony, the senate committee on mili- tary affairs decided to summon Sec retary Baker. He will be asked to explain to the committee and the country why he ordered special len iency toward conscientious objec- tors" who brazenly refused to obey any military discipline and finally or dered their honorable discharge, their pardon out of prison, payment of all back money and equipment with com plete new civilian outfit, while at the same time he refused to modify a system which sent boys willing and ready to fight for their flag to the federal prison for ten to twenty years for minor violations of military law. Something More for Baker to Explain
 It was Senator Frelinghuysen (Rep.) who brought out this contrast when he asked Gen Ansell:
 "What is your opinion, General, with regard to the attitude of the Sec retary of War toward these conscien- tious objectors whom he equips with bank roll, wearing apparel and then pins boquet in their buttonhole and gives them an honorable discharge, at the same time that men on the firing line are being committed to long terms of imprisonment for trivial of- fenses?"
 "T would rather be excused from an swering that, Senator" replied Gen. AnselI. "It would be exceedingly em- barrassing for me to answer il"
 Don't worry" interposed Senator Chamberlain. eve will have Secre- tary Baker himself here and have him answer it."
 "Maybe he will have conscientious