The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-11-14

~ ""N"| y ~"
Legion ~ The State o. Missouri, pro-
testing against The tender treatment
accorded conscientious ohieclors BY
military officials under the orders Of.
The war department A. officers In
Die army % the United states dur
ing The World War. we DID not and
DO not share the convictions Of men
who believed that n was wrong for
Them 10 participate In the war, but
IN the interests Of truth and justice
We believe that al members o. The
American Legion as we'll rs the gen.
cral public should be fully and ac-
'uraicly informed IN regard 10 the
facts concerning tho treatment 81
'~onscientious objectors.
The resolutions charge that con-
sclcnlious DIRECTORS who had been
tried by court martial and convicted
have been fully pardoned. honorably
discharged and given all back pay
allowances. a bonus and a new suit
Of clothes; further stating that this
~ better treatment than IL given
soldiers who fought for tins country.
In the war.
IN The report Of the war depart
ment dated June IL. 1919 issued un-
der authority Of the secretary Of
war, the statement Is made that So
ti0h5 had been returned To the war
department by conscientious ohiec-
tors who have been discharged from
the military prison at Fort Leaven-
worth; also that other conscientious
directors forwarded the money
which they received from the wal
department 10 the amount Of s20.0Oo
10 the American Red Gross and other
war relief agencies. We understand
that the men imprisoned a. con-
scicnlious obieciors were informed
hat u would be- impossible TO cont
plcte their discharge papers without
their signing for the amount tech
nically due them according 10 the
regular rules governing the payment
NJ men MS they are discharged
u should be- also stated that there
are approximately 100 conscientious
lhicciors held under sentences Of
long terms In the military prisons al
Fort Leavenworth. Kan, al Alcatraz
Island, San Francisco, and al Fort
Douglas. Utah. II should also be-
stated that all military prisoners
are given a cheap cotton suit Of
clothes In which Ia return to thrir
homes after they have been dis
charged from the military prisons.
whore they have worn prison garb.
As 10 the question " the tender
treatment" Of conscientious object
ors. We quote below from a memoir
andum on that subject inserted In
the Congressional Record by Hon.
william 4. Mason Of Illinois:
AZ Camp Funston a group Of con
scicntious obicctors for six weeks
were put through a course OF the
toughest sort Of hazing and brutal
ity. They were not allowed To COM
municatc with any one during this
time, were subjected 10 physical co
ercion-struck with whips and were
dragged about with ropes, etc. 9th
~ undcnicd stories of brutality have
come from Camp sherman. Camp
Meade. Camp Wadsworth, Fort Jay,
Fort Riley. and numerous other an
comments.
Finally, over 600 DIRECTORS were
sent 10 the military prison at Fort
Leavenworth, with sentences rang
ing from 3 10 20 years lSince this
was written. the Clemcncy Board
has reduced sentences 80 that the
longest sentence which a c%onscicn-
tious ohiector Is now serving h
probably six years Here some Of
the DIRECTORS who refused 10 fall IN
line with the military discipline
were kept for over nine weeks In
solitary confinement during most Of
which time they were manarlcd.
standing, To the bars of their cclls
nine hours a day every alternate two
weeks being spent ON a diet Of
bread and water. This was done
with the express authorization Of tho
War Department, as was iacitly adj
mitted In Secretary Bakers order Of
December 6, aholishing manacling.
"Yei. In spite ~ these facts.
harges are brought that the War
Department Disseminated In favor
4 conscientious DIRECTORS, The tx
PLANTATION Of this Is 10 be found in
the policy adopted by the War De-