The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-16
CHAMBERLAIN CALLS
FOR ARMY JUSTICE
Declares He Will Cite 1000
Cases to Show Cruelty Of
COurts-Martial.
FLAG INsULTER ELECTED
Stranger Starts Fight by
Sneering and unpatriotic
Remark.

United States Senator George Il.
Chamberlain, Democrat, of Oregon, re-
firing chairman of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, speaking at dinner
Of the Sphinx Club at the Waldorf. last
night, threatened II necessary to cite
1000 cases to prove his contention that
injustice was meted out by army
Senator Chamberlain cited two spe-
cific cases. of men of the American Ex-
peditionary Forces who were sentenced
to twenty-five and fifteen years, rcspec-
lively. after benis found guilty of abb
sence without leave, and applause fol-
lowed hin declaration: The American
people will not allow the army Of the
United States to be Prussianized in any
such way as that I wish I could show
you some of the heartrending letters
| have received, and II this controversy
continues 1 will put a thousand OF them
! In evidence.
ut Is not a pleasant role that of a
| critic, and I only criticize when I see
wrong being done. There is no personal
| controversy between the Secretary of
War and myself on the question of
| courts-martial, and there should be none
between Gen. Ansell and Gen. Crowder,"
| the speaker continued, referring to crit
| icisms Of the court-martial system made
| to Judge Acknowledgement Enoch II.
Crowder by Brig. Gen. Samuel T. Ansell,
| former acting Judge Advocate General.
Deny the Power They Receive.
| I'm substance" Senator Chamberlain
continued, >"the Articles Of War provide
that the Judge Advocate General has
the power to review. revise and modify
| sentences imposed by courts-nfartial.
That's my view and that lie Gen. Ansell's.
The view OF Secretary Baker and Gen.
Crowder is that they have no power to
do what the law expressly authorizes
them to do. It's strange construction
! Of the law. In civil life the law Is the
law, but in military life II seems to be
the other way, and there are men in
the ARMY do not refer to any of my
friends here to-night--'who look upon an
enlisted man as q mere piece of human
flesh ana not as a human being with
rights that should be protected"
Senator Chamberlain then told OF the
case Of an enlisted man from San Fran
cisco who had been sentenced to five
years Imprisonment for a few hours alb
sence without leave. The man, he said
was advised by his guards TO escape,
which he did. but being caught later
was retired and sentenced TO ten years
1T is against that SYSTEM said the
Senator, that I protest.
| What the club officials described as
an exceedingly regrettable incident oc-
CURED in the course Of Senator Cham
berlain speech. The Senator had just
expressed his regret that the armistice
was signed when II was and that hoatli-
ties did not continue for ten days longer.
| when he thought The German army
would have been forced to an ignomini-
Gus surrender
A Bibulous Interruption.
! II would like to have seen Germany
suffer something of what France suf-
fered, and her army return home not ms
heroes but as conquered remnant of
militarism," the Senator was saying
when the commotion that for a few
minutes threatened to mar the proceed
ings began A guest who had dined not
wisely but too well, found something in
the speakers remarks to which he took
exception. Accounts vary. but those
seated near the disturber said he made
audibly diHparaging references to the
Oregon Senator and wound UP by ex-
claiming: ITO hell with the American
Tag"
| There was a slight disturbance, but
Senator Chamberlain continued his
speech. When he sat down. however, the
commotion broke out again. Edmund
W. Mitchell vice-president OF the Texas
and Oklahoma OIL Company, a prominent
member of the club. who was seated at
the bibulous ones table. adopted primi-
tive measures ard knocked the disturber
down. Fellow diners friends and other
wise of tho victim, crowded around and
hustled him out through n side door
officials Of the club announced afterwa I'd
that they had been unable to learn his
identity.
Forget It. He's lucky he's no. IN
jail" was the only comment offered by
Edmund d. Gibbs. n member OF the
clubs executive COMMITTEES, who took
charge OF the situation.
Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines. chief OF
the Embarkatlon Service announced that
already 100000 OF tho American FIX
pedtionary forces had been broNght
home and that 100000 more would be
added before the END OF the present
month. and that the monthly quota OF
returning troops for May and June
would probably be 5000. He closed
with a plea for the success Of the Vic
tory Loan. declaring that success would
be Americas best answer TO the doc
trine of Bolshevism.
Another speaker was Col. Henry w.
Hodge, former Public Service Commits
sioner. who spoke of his work construct
ing railroads In France for the Ameri-
can army abroad.
Among the guests of the club were
Charles Dana Gibson, Sir Charles Henry.
Major-Gen. Thomas II. Barry. Major