The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-26
majors and captains before whom ap-
proximateiy 135 objectors came for

majors and captains before whom ap-
proximateiy 135 objectors came for
trial.
The speaker cited alleged secret or
ders issued by the war department.,
Of which the public knew nothing,
he said but OF which the obstruction
lists were we'll informed, as one pro
cess Of extending the provision Of
the congressional act to the advantage
of the objectors."
Local draf, boards" Major Fos-
ter said. had Instructions to- -ipduct
into military service and to send to
army camps al men between the ages
of 21 and 81 years.
There was, however, an inner
working OF the military program.
Directors Of all classes found pro-
lection awaiting in extensions of the
act Of congress by secret orders, and
every man who expressed or showed
any distinction toward military ser
vice found a we'll organized and we'll
promulgated pcopa aganda Of the OBJ
s.ructionistS awaiting that supported
him. Bulletins and pamphlets from
the National Civil Liberties Bureau OF
New York were serli-seccetly pro-
mu!gated among the drafted men up
on their arrival in camp. These nu!.
letins were arguments, against mill
tary service and contained detailed
Instructions as TO how the drafted
man might avail himself Of paciticisn,
protection.
Confidential letters and bulletin:
were sent to commanding generals OF
all National Army and National Guard
cantonments and camps, the very ma
ture of which prohibited any officer III
in the United States army inpariing
/ to the public theil. contents. Each
confidential order or bulletin contain
ed the closing paragraph:
J "'Under no circumstances shout:
these instructions be communicated
to the newspapers
Public opinion, no doubt was re-
sponsib!e fer the secrecy of these in
structions as they We're Of a nature
! which would have been reyo!tins 20
the American public had they known
the full facts.
One OF the first OF these secret
orders provided; absolute immunity
i fer any man who chose 20 refuse
J military service. In pert il reads:
with reference TO ,heir attitude
OF ohjecting 20 military service these
! men are net to be treated IS violating
military laws. thereby subjectinS
! themselves to the pena!ties OF the ar
ticles Of war. but Their attitude IL
this respect, will be quictly ignored
and they will be treated With kindl;
consideration
The number Of objectors increas-
ed and numerous complaints on the
peculiar condition went from army
officers to Washington. \ board OF
! inquiry ''ntler the direct and person
al supervision of the secretary OF
/ war resulted. The announced inten-
=, ton Of the board was to discriminate
! between the true obicctors and false
objectors. The range Of the board.
however, was limited bt' q second SEC
ret order promulgated by SecTe;ni,E
Raker December 10. 1917:
The secretary o; war directs that
Until further instructions on the Sub
ject, arc issued. personal scruples
against war should be construed as
constituting conscientious obicc-or::
under the instructions contained in
! confidential letter from this Office
Gated October 10, 1917.
by that ordel, every man who had
any reason for cloiect;ng TO military
service. whether cowardice. huinaui-
tarianism. international socialism. be-
lief in the principles Of the I. W ".
or what not had to be permitted
! to violate all the military regulators
and his violations h 4 TO he quietly
| ignored and the man treated WITH
/ kindly consideration.
One Of the ohjectors wrote this
;"tttr While in tile @.llardho@Se:
| From wha. litlle iiew% w. get,