New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Investigation Demanded of
the War Departments At
titude Toward Those Re-
fusing to Serve in Army
Conv vention Closed
Constitution Adopted, First
Words of Which Are
''For God and Country''
Staff Correspondent

Staff Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, May 10.-The American
Legion at its closing session here to-
day unanim ously assailed the War De-
partment for it's attitude toward and
treatment of conscientious objectors
condemned the radicals who sought
the release of these men, and demand
ed a full Congressional investigation
of the trial, conviction and pardon of
those who refused military service.
The legion also denounced disloyal
organizations and publications, de-
manded the deportation OF aliens, in
Guiding those informed during the war,
tabled a resolution advocating six
months additional pay for enlisted
men and finally adopted constitution
before adjournng, to meet again in
Minneapolis November 10, II and IL.
Roosevelt Opposes Bonus
The outstanding features of the con-
vention to-day, in addition to the reso-
lutions, were "stablizing" speech by
the Rev. John w. Inzer, of Mobile, Ala,
and a brief but pointed speech by
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt against the
resolution for six months additional
pay.
Colonel Roosevelt, amid great ap
plause, said:
Gentlemen, I want to call your at
tention to one feature of this PROPOSE
tion for additional pay for service men.
One of the delegates coming out on
the same train with me declared that
&O hot 20
young Teddy up ahead. He's going
out to St. Louis to try to get some OF
the men together to sandbag scme-
thing out of the government Now,
we want everything which is right
for us to have, but primarily we are
going to try to put something into
that government. In thinking over
this resolution, think of that"
Instantly the delegates were on
that the resolution be rejected, and
motion to lay it on the table was
passed unanimously.
The Rev. Mr.. 1nzer's address came
early in the morning session. He was
chaplain of the 14th Infantry, and
while waiting to go overseas was de-
tailed to Seattle, and was there dur
ing the labor troubles.
"This convention could not have
done a better thing than create the i'm
preston it has done relative TO Mayor
Thompson OF Chicago, and the |. w.
W., OF Seattle" he said Lets go homo
and say we are for America, and that
we have caught the spirit and the
vision, and then every one will soon
realize that you can't stop us with
anything in the world"
jor Foster, of Camp Funston, ad-
dressed the convention on this ques-
ton, saying:
For some unknown reason about 1875
of these cattle were shipped out to
Camp Funston, segregated and not re-
quired to do military service. They
were tried for disobedience to law
full order in time of war, duly con-
victed, sentenced to prison and large
majority Of them pardoned inside of
two months.
Pardons Condemned
These men are not ordinary, poor
misguided fanatical men, but the larger
number of them are college graduates.
Seven OF these cases were SO serious
that the court of which | was a men,
Der sentenced them to death. Within
three weeks the order came from Wash
ington restoring them to honorable
duty. When they were dismissed and
given discharge with honor they took
every dollar and cent that the officials
III Washington said should be paid to
them, and they carefully counted it,
and it amounted to between $40O and
$500, and they went home with it.
you all know who is responsible
for this condition. You all know that
this convention should condemn it,"