South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-22
SAYS COMMITTEE
IS UNDER SYSTEM
Lieut.. Col. AnSeII Makes
Charges Against Ameri-
can Association.

WASHINGTON, April 2-.-Leut
Gel Samuel T. AnseIl. former acting
Judge advocate general and chief
aEure in the attack upon the army
disciplinary system accused the COM
.nittee Of the American Bar asocla-
ZION Monday with having placed it.
elf under the domination OF the war
department. in its investigation Of
military justice and OF shutting its
eves 10 the truth His assertion,
made on his appearance before the
committee was promptly challenged
fe Chairman Gregory. who warned
col AnseI that he was over suspi-
cious and con the wrong track
I'VE are not anybody's tools. de
dared Judge Gregory. J have prac-
uced law two and "a half times as
long as Secretary Baker. don't
propose 20 surrender my Judgment TO
anybody " YOU are for justice this
committee viii strike hands with
ou.
Attacks Conboy'- Rights.
col Ansell specifically attacked the
right Of Martin Conboy OF New York
to sit on the committee. The rela-
tionship between Conboy and Maj
cen. Crowder. Judge advocate gen
ofai. has been such. Col Ansell as
serted. as TO make him "a staunch
supporter" Of Gen. CrOWder. For
that reason. Col Anseu said Mr.
Conboy should withdraw from the
committee.
Mr.. Conboy was not present at the
session. but BIdge Gregory pointed
out that he and the other members
OF the committee had known Gen.
Crowder and respected him highly.
ard added:
II do not think that would inhu-
cnce my mind"
ArraignS Court Martial
Col Ansel then proceeded with
his arrangement OF tine court martial
system itself. denouncing II as UNI
American and the practically uu-
changed survival of the old British
military code adopted in 1874 when
soldiers were the creatures Of a SOW
"reign or overload. The witness was
assured by Judge Gregory that ne
might have all the time he wished
TO present his case or TO call officers
and others whose views he wished
10 be presented. Col Ansell viii
continue tomorrow with his carefully
prepa red argument. He did not pass
today beyond the legislative history
of the articles OF war seeking TO
snow that they have never changed
substantially or brought into har-
mony with American ideas OF right
and justice.
col AnseH opened his hearing
with prepared statement which he
declared his conscience required him
TO make before he coud proceed.
His attack on the method and per
sonnet OF the committee was con
tanned in this document
Opponent of System.
Declaring that he was the leading
opponent OF the army court system
and had been subjected TO military
restrictions" in his efforts TO reform
So. the officer said. the fact that the
mmittee at this rather late date
lad asked him 10 appear was sig
uiicant 10 him. He expressed regret
that the committee did not call him
sooner, In order that he might have
better prepared the case he desired
to present.
Military justice" Col Ansell said,
US not being best served 10y the
method OF investigation pursued by
this committee. but on the contrary
stands in fair way TO suffer az your
hands"
col Ansell declared that while his
own view was that the army court
sy stem was un-American and op-
I'ressive. ON the other side were
those in highest military authority"
who were endeavoring by the use
.f the organized power OF goven-
ucnt' TO make the people that there
was nothing i'm the system to cause
rncasiness.. When he launched his
attack. the witness continued the
war department through the Judge
jvocate had sprung strongly 20 the
defense of the court martial system
lie said the committee would gain
nothing by avoiding a hearing" OF
.lch personal disaErecments as
were necessarily a part OF the dis
tlssIon.