Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-06
.DEPORT AL|ENSWHO
! CLAIMED EXEMPTION
SAYS C. {. ATWATER
Chairman of County Draft
Board Says They Will Not
Make Good Citizens-Seat-
tie Board Hold Same View.

George e. Atwater, chairman of the
Ada county draft board, is out after
the scalp of conscientious DIRECTORS
and that class of aliens, both declar-
ants and non -declarants, who claimed
exemption and remained on good jobs
on the mere excuse of non citizenship.
Such men are not good citizens of
the United States and should be sent
back to the countries from whence
they came, and it should be made
blamed hard for conscientious objec-
tors to find a job in this country as
long as there is a soldier boy out OF
employment" said Mr.. Atwater.
He announced that he was not alone
in the movement as the local draft
board of Seattle had taken the same
view of handling the declarants and
non-declarants who claimed exemption
as was shown by letter he received
from them and of which he had made
copies and sent to Idahos senators and
congressman. The letter says in part:
LETTER FROM SEATTLE BOARD
AT a recent meeting of members
Of all local boards of Seattle, Wash
ington, q resolution was unanimously
adopted to initiate a nation wide move
ment having for it's purpose the de-
portation of all aliens, both declarants
and non -declarants, who had claimed
exemption from military service on the
mere ground of citizenship.
The exemption of aliens was the
most eXasperating experience of the
boards. The action of such aliens was
coWardly, disgraceful and unpatriotic
EVERY such person Immediately brand
ed himself as dangerous and unde-
sirable resident/This country nurtured
and protected these ingrates. At the
very first test, when this nation faced
crisis, these men were not willing
to bear any burdens. For every alien
so exempted a good American boy had
to go to the front. These aliens re-
manned at home in ease and safety
They still retain good jobs to the
exclusion of our returned soldiers.
MANY organizations seem to center
all their attention on the aliens who
surrendered their papers. You, as
member of draft board, can see no
difference between the alien who has
surrendered his first papers and a nom
them are the same kind of parasites. !
man not willing to fight certainly
would not make q desirable citizen. II |
congress is so intent upon deporting
only the alien who surrendered his |
first papers, then at least congress
should by statute make it impossible |
for the non -declarant alien who claims |
exemption to be naturalzed.
Congress is now considering a bill |
to restrict immigration. We believe |
boards should urge congress to pro- |
hibit all general immigration for at |
least a period of years.
THE combined influence of draft |
boards upon the question Of deporting
aliens and upon immigration laws
would be tremendous. We suggest
and urge that you Immediately write
to each congressman and senator from
your state. Get every patriotic and
organization to do likewise.
The legislatures of many states are
now meeting; concerted action should
be brought to bear to memorabilia con-
gress along these same lines Get the
newspapers started-do anything hon
orable to break into print and to keep
the agitation growing"