The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-27
Kansas House Condemns Re-
lease Conscientious Directors.
"Places a Premium Upon Slack
erism and COwardice."
URGE CONGRESSIONAL PROBE
Brand War Dep't's Policy I'm
wise and UnpatriOtic.
&c. O.'s" Should "Stay In" Rest
of Lives, Says Samson.

Members of the Kansas house OF
representatives voiced bitter criticism
and denunciation of Newton ID. Bak-
er. secretary of war. when that body
today adopted a resolution protesting
against the release of conscientious
| objectors." House members demand
| ed congressional investigation OF
the delinquencies of the war depart
/ ment, and urged members of the
Kansas delegation in Washington TO
| read their resolutions into the Con-
gressional Record.
| Representatives Williamson of
Wyandotte county offered the resolu-
| ton condemning the release of con-
scientious objectors from Camp Fun
ston and the disciplinary barracks at
Fort Leavenworth. His resolution
branded the war departments action
i as mischievious. unwise. unpatriotic.
| un-American and destructive to the
! morals OF every person ring the
uniform of the United States"
| Miles Mulroy. Democrat leader in
the house, sought to block the motion
for immediate consideration of the
resolution. Beard of Sedgwick. Re-
publican, sought to have the measure
sent to a committee for consideration.
Harvey of Clark. Republican. direct
ed fight to strike out the enacting
clause. Williamson. however, forced
the measure to roll call and the reso-
luton was adopted by vote of "a to
20. Twelve Republicans voted with
the Democrats in opposition to the
resolution They were: Collins.
Geddes. Gorham, Harley Harris. Har-
vey. Hawk, Lauver. Lydick, Schmidt
Showalter and Yount
/ Harvey, of Clark, Republican de-
clared the resolution was an effort TO
inject politics into the session without.
knowledge of facts. Jackson, of An
derson. asked why protest should be
Rer.afr -~f -01.
this time iather than at some other
time.
Claims Policy Unjust.
i I'll tell you" said Williamson. TT
is because there are thousands of BOYS
in the service who are needed at home
and have not been released. while
these men who opposed the war are
being sent home with new suits OF
clothes and with expenses paid"
| Representative Harley, Republican,
declared there were honest conscien-
tious objectors and that the house
should not be too severe in its criti-
cism.
ANY man not American enough to
/ help win this war. should he held in
disciplinary barracks the rest of his
life, replied Samson of Cove
Ihe resolution will be Tnessaged to
the senate late this afternoon and ain
effort Will probably he made to force
immediate consideration in the upper
house. On final roll call on adoption
of the resolution. the house member
ship voted as follows:
The House Vote.
Ayes-Amos, Baker. Baird. RIand, Boil
liHger, Brooks. Brougher, Bruncr. Bur.,ick
Caldwell of Ottawa, Campbell of Bourbon.
Campbell of Sedswlck. Cbasc Cloud Ed
wards. Farrell. Finney. Foster Fowler,
lseas. Freeman. FrizeT Gibbons GrnhaIn,
Graves. Grins;ead. IIeeIer. HiIl. Howard.
Hughes. Iddings. ireland. Jackson. John.
soh of Norton; Joliffe. Kline. knuds"n.
WhaTf Mann. "yeT Myers. Nei.~ssnGer NisnGtGs sts,s &
Norman. Ostertag. Paul. Peterson, Piper.
kidgway kobbins; Ruth. samson, sanders.
S-rgent. Sawhill. Scott of Rocks. shannon
Of Ellsworth. shannon of Wilson, ShideIer,
simpson. smith, Snyder. This. Watkins,
Wilson. Woodward. Mr.. Speaker Total "a
Nays.i'rown, Collins. Coz. Dennis. Dud-
Harvey. Hawk. Johnson Of NeInnhn.
Lauyer, Lydick. Lyons. Miller Muiroy.
Total, -.
Following is the resolution which
Williamson offered in protest OF the
which was adopted without amend
ment:
whereas. the people of Kansas have
learned with deep cbagriu aBd mortlfica-
ton Of the action Of Newton d. Baker
-. 1913. the liberation from the United
states disciplinary barracks at Fort I.eav-
snworth, Kansas. 113 prisoners. politely
known rs conscientious obJectors but
VINO. IN a large measure are Of doubtful re-
ngious scrupies. and generally con-
sidered as slackers. towards not 10 sav
traitors 20 their country. when Its valiant
sons have so recently suffered fntle-
scrtbable hardsbips and have freely offered
themselves for the supreme sacrifice nt
Chateau Thierry. at ~. Mihiel and In the
Argonne forest, TINT liberty might live and
tyranny perish. and
Whereas. the aetion Of the secretary Of
, war has brought the blush Of shame 20 the
cheeks Of all patriotic Americana n an
Insult 10 the United States army and has
placed a premium upon slnckerism cow
artllce and mawkish sentimentaiity. now
therefore. be IL
? Resolved. by the house Of representatives
OF the state Of Kansas. the senate eoncur-
ring therein:
That we heartily condemn the action OF
newton u. Baker, secretary Of war. IN
releasing the prisoners tndiea;e6 fn the
preamble hereof. ns mIschlevous. unwlsr.
|, uupatriotic- un- American. md destructive
TO the Hfsrale Of every person wearing the
uniform Of the United States: and
lie IL further resolved. that our senators
to take such action will result 10
careful. Eearching Investigation Of the de-
I Iinqnencies af the department In
dealing with the so-ea He'd conscientious OBJ
1ecicrs. from the establishment Of the can
tnnment ut Camp Funston. up to and in
tary Of war. iH Iiberating these dangerous
| civic BoEiescrtptH from the United states
disciplinary barracks 1T Fort Leaven-
worth: and
! Re II further resolved that the secr--
tary of state be and he f. hereby directed
tim TO Newton u. Baker secretary 81 war.
! and to each Of our senators and represen-
| tatfyes tH Congress with the request that
, this resolution be read into the Congress