Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-01
sATURDAY........MARCH 1, 1919
PART OF BAKERS RECORD,

Gradually the inside facts regard
ing the administration of the war de-
partment are coming to light They
speak for themselves. and require no
political Interpretation to bring their
own condemnation.
One hundred and thirteen Con-
scientious directors" were recently re-
leased from Fort Leavenworth-re-
leased is not the right word; they
were given honorable discharges from
the army and were given back pay
amounting to from three hundred dol
lars to six hundred dollars each.
Secretary Baker went far beyond
the law defining conscientious OBJ
jectors" and directed that no man
who personally objected to war should
be compelled to serve in the army or
to perform farm or other work nee
essary to make war effective.
Here is something the whole coun-
try should know; In giving his in
structions to the commanding officers
at the cantonments and training
camps, Secretary Baker, in an order
dated December 10, 1871 used these
words
'SECOND-UNDER NO CIRCUM-
STANCES SHOULD THESE IN
STRUCTIONS BE COMMUNICATED
TO THE NEWSPAPERS"
When some of the commanders so
strongly objected to having these
drafted men about camp in civilian
dress, as Secretary Baker directed
they should be permitted to be, and
doing nothing, that they disobeyed
orders and put them to work or in the
guard house, the secretary issued an
other order under date of April IS.
1918. as follows:
The secretary OF war directs tie
attention of all commanding officers
to the provisions of paragraph If
this order to the effect that no punt
tive hardship of any kind be imposed
on conscientious DIRECTORS who do not
accept assignment to non-cpmhatant
service before the cases shall have
been submitted to the secretary of war
and instructions relating to their dis
position shall have been issued by
him"
All of this was done win tho fun
knowledge and approval of President
Wilson.
But here a,e some of the reasons
for conscientious objections to military
or related service, as given in the re-
port of Judge Julian Mack of Chicago,
assigned to hear the excuses of the
men who We're afterward honorably
discharged and given back pay:
LAHU IGNATZ, from Camp Up
ton: Il am too religious for any kind
of work except on my own farm. I
would accept farm furlough under
that condition"
MAN DANIELENITCH, Camp
Grant; disclaimed citizenship in the
United States, hence argued he should
not be made to fight. Would YOU
fight for Russia" he was asked. mo.
! would fight for no country" he in
sisted.
SAMUEL ARBITMAN, a Russian
JoW from Camp Devens. said he was
a believer in brotherly love, and as he
was of Jewish faith. could not fight.
Judge Mack resented that assertion,
the judge being of that faith.
But ] am not an orthodox Jew"
Arbitman declared, when questioned
as to what possible basis for objection
to fighting he could find in the Jewish
faith.
HENRY WIEBE, 26 years old.
feet and inches tall, explained why
he refused service at Camp Pike.
II became a Mennonite in June.
1913" he said. Then he established
he registered June 5, 1917. and was
classified for immediate call n few
days before he Joined the church
JOSEPH ANDERSON, Seventh
Day Adventist from Camp Upton, ex-
planned he had been given farm
Through and could find no place
where they would let him rest Satur-
day, so he returned to camp. He
went into the hospital for medical
service and refused to care for pa
tents on Saturday. that being in vio-
lation of his conscientious scruples.
LOUIS BARASCH, an Austrian
from Camp Upton had signed state
ment he would refuse to fight against
Austria or her allies if he were taken
to France. Then on trial for dis
loyalty he switched to religious OBJ
lection, claiming intangible member
ship in the on-sectaran religion, and
that he could not take life.
suppose you went home some
night and found black negro fiend
invading your home. What would
you do" Judge Mack asked him.
II would believe the negro crazy
and not harm him" was the answer.
Barasch was not questioned further
until the board recovered poise.
FREDERICK LEIGHTON, Camp
Grant, told the board he had strug-
gled to convince himself farm fur
Tough would be accepted by his con-