Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-24
othsr Things to Consider

war time and armistice days to be
changed and our utterances to be re-
vised by time and the testimony of
the men and women Of America who
went to save Europe from the domi-
nation Of the Prussian?
That is a biz question that is be-
ginning to asitate the minds of many
patriotic Americans who have been
among the most ardent believers in
this country's obligations to Western
Europe, and who are now talking with
intelligent and educated soldiers just
discharged after overseas service.
When we talk with these men who
are bitter beyond expression because
of many injustices heaped upon them
by army intolerance and official in
competence, we remember the words
Of Colonel Ansell formerly acting
Judge advocate general. who said:
1.-THE attitude Of the army has been
inteisrant toward those methods nee.
essary to justice. They do not take
kindly to legal restraints"
When the citizen who has remained
at home to raise food, fund spend
thrift government. and pray for the
safe return of son or brother. talks
with observing young men from over
the sea, he may expect to hear some
very forceful condemnation Of the
way the fighting men have been han
died at home and abroad. And one
of the most forceful Of these is grim
warning to politicians. to nominate
a military man for ANY Office and
see US get his hide
That is the way they love military
life. military Justice military
methods-anything high or low OF
military caste. At no stage OF the
whole game have they had a glimpse
Of justice or fair play. They have
been guaranteed no profits. while
slackers and prohteers have piled up
untold millions by the aid Of bureau
cracy and Political chicanery. While
they have been sacrificing life or
limbs, or every other possibility OF
civic usefulness. going hungry and
sleeping in bloody ooze. workers at
home have forced wages and cost OF
living to points where returning fight
ers confront disaster when dis
charsed-and THEY could not strike
for higher wages,
And how are they being released
from service? In manner that is a
lasting and damning disgrace to this
nation. Here is a brief description
OF one young mans experience. told
by him OF a group Of men with him
and all suffering the same maddening
misuse by incompetents and blunder-
heads, or deliberately devilish army
methods.
This eastern Maine man with 9TH
ers from his outfit was told that they
would be discharged Immediately on
landing in this country, but they were
told that they must go TO Devens. At
that cantonment they awaited the
unwinding Of much red tape and. at
the last moment when everything
was complete and they were expect
ing to be in their homes in a few
hours, they were told that they would
have to go to Indiana to be dis
charged.
They went west and again waited
tor all the off-again- on again stuff
and at last were told that their pa
pers" were o. X. But suddenly a
hitch arose and finally they were told
that they must go to Washington to
be discharged. And SO again they
were bundled off in the search of di-
vorce from this mans army.
At Washington after full investi-
CATION of all that had been done at
Devens and the Central West, these
men were told that they could not be
discharged in Washington but must
return to Devens. Then the exasper-
alton Of the soldiers broke forth in in.
dignant protest that finally secured
an order for their discharge.
The young soldier, who is an edu-
Gated man Of Irish extraction, on his
way from Portland to Bangor un-
burdensd his mind. and his bitter
ness was echoed by others. He said
that his discharge from the army had
cost him three $50 Liberty bonds that
he had hoped to bring home with
him-and he ought to have been land
ed at home free Of expense and dis
charged there by the board that en-
rolled him.
u It any wonder that there 10 bit.
teruess among soldiers and their
friends? Or Il it any wonder that
there 10 "bolshevism" abroad when
millions Of families have knowledge
of such dsplorable injustice and ON.
cial cuseedneaa in their nun nar~nnoI