Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-13
jority Of them pardoned out OF the

jority Of them pardoned out OF the
penitentiary within two months.
"These men are not ordinary. poor
misguided. fanatical men, but the
large number Of them were college
graduates. Seven Of them were cases
so serious that the court. OF winch 1
was a member, sentenced them 10
death. Within three weeks the or
der came from Washington restor-
ing them to honorable duty.
"These men who were dismissed
from I.eavenworth and who were
tried by this court made the state
ment before the court to prove their
conscientious scruples that they did
not accept pay from the government.
Nor did they. But when they were
dismissed at Fort Leavenworth anS
honorably restored to duty and given
discharges with honor. they took
every dollar and cent that the gov
eminent sent or the officials IN
Washington said should be paid to
them and they carefully counted it
and it amounted to between $500 and
$500 each, and they went home with
il.
You all know who is responsible
for this condition. You all know
that this convention should condemn
it.
II say you cannot send out q
message to these people too strong
in condemnation Of this type and Of
the action Of the war department or
whoever is responsible for the solace
and the protection that has been
thrown around these men who hid
under the cloak Of an act Of Con-
gress that was designed to take care
Of the conscientious objector under
that act except man whose reli-
gious creed forbade him to take part
in the war in any way
Major Fosters speech created a
sensation and the delegates took the
shortest cut to passing Col. Her.
berts substitute.
Want Alien SIaekers Deported
The next matter in the report of
the committee on resolutions which
aroused the ire of the delegates be-
cause they believed it was not strong
enough was the plank dealing with
alien slackers. The committee re-
commended that Congress be urged
to bring about their immediate de-
parture, too sweet" as the dough-
boys in the caucus put it.
That brought Vice Chairman Sulli-
van to his feet, who said he took the
same position as Col. Herbert on the
conscientiouh objectors, and he Of
fered his own drastic resolution on
the subject.
Nov let's not be afraid to put the
cards on the table and say to the
we are not afraid to trample on the
toes of the diplomats of these al
legged countries who do not want leg
islation Of this kind to pass. We have
the interest of the man who donned
the khaki and the blue and when the
ships bring the boys from over there.
they must take back these alien
slackers.
I'VE would be derelict in our duty
to the boys who gave their all when
they went over the top, we would be
untrue to ourselves and the institu-
ton and principles for which we
fought if we did not see to it that
these people were sent back.
II was born in the State of Massa-
chusetts. and l was taught that cit
iZenship meant something TO me. As
a boy vent out West, where
learned that American citizenship
LII, -, A.
West
I'VE Are All Americans"
To-day, We are from all parts Of
the country. We are not from any
section alone, because We are all Am
orleans. This is an organization of
Americans This should be a coun-
try of American and if our citizen
ship means something, the swine who
come here from other countries
should be taught that it means
something like what McCrae said
When from failing hands We throw
the torch to you, be yours to hold it
high if We break faith with us who
die. we shall not sleep though poppies
grow in Flanders field.''
Lets make this unanimous and
do it now and say to the boys in ST.
IBERIA nd France that we are going
to see to it that when they get back
here that those damned alien slack
ers are not going to be here, or il
they are, they are going to be on the
dock at Hoboken to 30 in the boats
to take them back to their countries,
because they don't belong here and
we are not going to allow them to re-
MAN."
Col. Lea of Tennessee said that he
wanted to see a thorough job done,
and he offered another amendment
calling for the immediate depofta-
ton of every alien enemy, who, dur
ing the war. was interned." LEAFS
motion added more fuel to the fire.
Chaplain liner added his load of
fagots by shouting at the top Of his
voice: Five million men are back
Of this organization. If l were
Bolshevik I'd pack my grip and
start Tor home"
The convention adopted the Sulli-
van amendment amid widest en-
thusiasm.