New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
Demand General Amnesty.
Refuse to Leave Cells and
Work and Insist Pleas
Be Laid Before Wilson
Viewed az Soviet Move
Strike Said To Be Inspired
bv Leniency S ho n
Conscientious Directors
Spcciu! Correspondence

Spcctd1 Correspondence
LEAVENW ORTIZ, Kan, July. 22.-De-
handing a general amnesty 1900 for
mer soldiers. conscientious objectors
and Industrial Workers of the World.
ioined to-day in open mutny at the
disciplinary barracks of Fort Leaven-
worth
So-called strikes which frequently
and recently have occurred at the mill
tsrv prison are nothing in comparison
to this instruction. Prisoners refuse
10 work or drill, and patients in the
prison hospital refuse to take medi-
cine The situation is extremely alarm
ing. although no break has yet oc-
Cured.
With loaded rifles and fixed bayo-
nets, every available member Of the
disciplinary barracks guard and all
garrison troops, including a regiment
prison to keep the mutineers within
the walls.
quill in your neck. There amt no
such gang" one prisoner deaantly
yelled only this morning when an Of
ficer ordered the first gang to work,
and the mutiny, all prearranged, was
on.
Gang after gang refused to leave the
cells. Guards were threatened and Of
ficers were warned to keep their dis
lance.
Demand Freedom
"Open the gates and let US out" is
me sum and substance Of the demand
presented to Colonel Sedwch Rice,
'ommandant, by Tony Stephano, an
Italian, president of the general pris-
Ilers conference committee.
The prisoners" said Colonel Rice,
declare they will not return to work
Until promise is made that they shall
,'e set free.
They have demanded that the
ssison officials place their request be-
fre President Wilson, but this has
tot been done. All that has been done
o far is to telegraph the request to
he adjutant general of the army. No
.eply has been received.
Aside from the demand for general
amnesty, the prisoners made some
complaints about the food, which is
similar to that furnished the regular
army soldier.
Since the release of 113 conscientious
directors, who were allowed full pay
for the time they served in prison
and were accorded every privilege of an
nonorably discharged soldier, the
morale of the prison inmates has grad
uauy lowered. Within the last six
months several strikes have been de-
clared and the inmates have organized
4 general prisoners conference COM
Elittee, which virtually usurps the
rights of the prison officials.
Regarded as a Soviet
The enlisted personnel on duty at
the penal institution openly regard the
7rganiZat on as a Soviet. The home
lie government formed by the pris-
ners is recognized by the officials
through its conference committee.
,.any demands have been presented
y granted by the prison officials
Ghe prisoners organization even
? 5lishes a report of its work One
{ ragraph Of the latest report made
7 llic says that the various sub-com-
4 ttees, which virtually handle all tho
' side welfare of the barracks, ode
I've grea. praise for their untiring
Verts and interests manifested, from
lie president down. Each man in his
.@rucular line OF endeavor has taken
Id with a determination to m>e.A this
7 stitution such that others will sit up
nd lake notice."
Colonel Rice declares every precau-
lion has been taken to hold the radical
element among the prisoners in check,
but there is no indication of a settle
ment~