Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-12
ROGERS DENIES HIT
AT DRAF TED MEN
Sends Letter to National Com
mander of Legion Explaining
Remark Under Attack
COUNTY BOARD WILL ACT

Protests from members Of the Amer
drafted men by Judge Joseph r. liog
ers, Of Quarter Sessions Court. have
caused the Judge to send n letter TO
Franklin D'Olier national commander
Of tho Legion. denying the statement
attributed to him.
Tho judge, in addition to denying the
alleged remark. says the witness to
whom he is alleged to have made it
was disposed to make an undue pa
rade' of his service record.
The stenogrn phic report Of the case in
which Harry Brick. the veteran in
question. was testifying. fails TO show
that the judge said, II have no time
for them" in speaking of drafted men
Post t52. Of tho, American Legion
Yesterday formally demanded that Judge
Rogers amend his alleged remark. The
Philadelphia county committee Of the
Legion will investigate the matter. it
was announced.
The letter sent TO Mr. D'Olier by
Judge Rogers follows
philadelphia December II 1ala.
'Mr. Franklin D'Olier,
National Commander.
American Legion;
Certain newspaper accounts of an
incident that occurred i'm our Quarter
Sessions Court day or so ago during
the trial of three defendants charged
with crime. at which trial | %ns pre-
aiding, have so tortured the truth as to
imply that criticized or sneered al that
great section OF our American soldiers
IN the recent war known IA the drafted
men. Nothing could be further from
the. fact. Ordinarily ! would leave the
ofhcial stenographic transcript OF the
proceedings in court to show the real
truth of the matter; but these published
accounts touch me in such a vital way
and in matter so close to my heart as
man as well Us a judge that | feel
that / must nail this perversion of what
actually happened before it is permitted
to get further circulation aud hence. rs
the means most conducive TO that end.
l address this letter TO you MS the head
OF that great patriotic bory OF military
heroes. the American Legion.
Nothing is attempted by way Of
criticism of my conduct of the case or
Of my entire fairness throughout the
trial. But these newspaper reports
make II appear that something I said
by way of passing comment and having
nothing to do with the merits of the
case, was an indication that ! had a
contempt for the drafted man in our
army Never in court nor out of il
have / entertained such au idea.
my recollection of the incident is
that a witness for the. common wealth.
who had been examined. cross examined
aud re examined upon the merits of the
case, was asked, as he was leaving the
witness stand. by the assistant district
attorney, for how long he had been in
the army. to which the witness replied
sixteen months.
"It was plain from the manner Of
this witness that he was overzealous for
the prosecution and disposed to make
in the interest Of securing conviction
Of the defendants an undue parade of
his army services. Hence it WAS that
after he had answered in reply to my
inquiry that he had been drafted and
was not a volunteer l observed that
there were 4,000,0 900 others who had
been drafted.
"This entirely innocent observation
is now attempted to be made the basis
of some criticism of me. on the theory
that it indicated an antagouism' to the
drafted men. How such an intcrpre-
tation could fairly be placed on what
/ said is beyond me. This is the whole
Of the incident as I remember IL, and,
indeed. | never gave it another thought
until to my ameEement l learned by
the newspaper reports referred to y,
the attempt land it is apparent that II
is actuated by political or other ulte-
rior motiyes) to distort what I said
into q suggestion of lack of patriot
ism on my part toward my country, or
a disrespect or contempt for the mil
lions of hero boys who obeyed the call
Of our country and served it even unto
death.
MY personal activities. as well as
those of my family and relatives. in
behalf of our country in its need are
either sufficiently known or readily
ascertainable to repel such an absurd
Interpretation of anything that said.
Respectfully yours.
WIOSEPH u ROGERS -