New-York tribune., 1919-04-17
More Humanity
Needed mAr1ny.
Says Gen. Wood
Bar Association Committee
Hears Suggestions for
Reforms in Procedure
of Military Tribunals
By Carter Field
Ne,0 Yo,N ribune

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 10 More hu-
manity, rather than change in laws,
is what the army needs to improve the
system of military justice. Major Gen
eral Leonard Wood told the investigat-
ing committee of the American Bar
Association here to- day.
Soldiers never should be treated, he
insisted, in such a way that they would
lose their self-rcspcct.
Just remember how many times you
have been a fool YOURSELF is good
rule said the general, smiling.
Sevcnty~fve per cent Of the soldiers
tried by general courts martial during
the war should not have been brought
to trial at all, the former chief Of staff
declared.
Suggested improvements
General Woods suggestions for i'm
proponents in the present system Of
military justice. which mas recently
Brigadier General (since denoted to
lieutenant colonel, Samuel 7. Ansell.
Provost Marshal General Crowder and
Chairman Chamberlain of the Senate
Military Affairs Committee, were as
follows:
I More careful Investigations of
cases before bringing men to
trial which, he believed, in three quar-
ters of the cases would reveal that
1t is not only possible, but better, for
both accused and the service to resort
to disciplinary measures at command
of Officers rather than to subject
men to court martial.
> Larger use of the lower courts,
such as summary and special
courts martial, rather than general
courts martial.
z Instruct judge advocate generals
80 not to act as prosecuting at
torneys and not to make impassoned
pleas against accused soldiers, but
merely to present evidence coldly for
benefit of cour.
A Always, whore it is unavoidable to
try man by general court mar
tlai see to 1T that he is represented
ably and protected in all his legal
rights, so as to avoid having an in
experienced officer defending against
vigorous prosecution by a judge ad-
vocate general.
= Handle the men. in the first place.
20 with human discrimination and
common sense, in which case. General
Wood said, there would be practically
little trouble.
Il Fixing of maximum sentences for
os all offences, even in time of war
General Wood said he thought the
power to give unlimited sentences was
dangerous.
= Recognition of the principle that
punishment's main purpose is the
reformation OF the man punished
Opposes Cumbersome System
Although he waited the men to have
every possible chance General Wood
was very earnest in his plea to the
committee not to propose "anythine
that would make a Harry Thaw trial in
court martial possible"
Give us system, if you can" he
said. without the cumbersome pro
cccdlngs which often attach to q civil
trial. The only purpose of a court
martial is TO ascertain the facts and
to Judge the necessities of the case hu-
namely"
A sharp difference of opinion was
exhibited to the committee as between
the views Of General Wood and Major
General Hugh l.. Scott, another former
chief of staff, who followed General
Wood on the stand.
General Scott, who did not hear Cen
cral Woods testimony, insisted that
everything possible was already being
done along the lines Of investigating
cases before the men arc brought TO
trial. He insisted that the men we're
adequately represented by defenders
IN the court, except in occasional in
stances where no we'll qualified Of
ficcr Is available for the defence.
he insisted that humancncss and
good sense were displayed in the mul-
ttitudco of cases which had passed over
his desk when he was chief of stafT