Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-03-25
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST
SECRETARY OF WAR
Mr.. Baker Accused Of Being Part Of
paeiiist Organization by Ex-
Army-Major

Sucn clever manner tnat IL mas
reached "the foundations of the most
active department Of the government
the war department" was charged
in an address today by Major Dick
b. Foster, member Of court martial
at Camp Funston, Kans., that tried
1876 alleged conscientious objectors
| He accused Secretary Of War Baker
of Intentionally or unintentionally
aiding and assisting the |. w. W., In
ternational Socialists and humanita-
rians in their program of blocking
construction Of the army by extend
ing and perverting the acts Of con-
gress for the protection, comfort and
solace of these obstructionists."
No Personal Grievance
''In giving you this story Of con-
scientious objectors | want to assure
you that | have no personal reason
for doing So" Major Foster declared.
81 am an American citizen, an ex-
officer Of the United States army,
and as such feel that every Ameri-
can is entitled to know conditions
which surround the induction into the
army of the true conscientious OBJ
jectors and the false conscientious
objectors and the objectors which in
cluded Industrial Workers OF the
World, international Socialists, anar-
chists and slackers.
"The gravity Of the situation is not
realized by the American people"
Charged With Giving Aid
The speaker charged that the sec
retary Of war had "given aid" to the
objectors and read paragraphs from
what he declared were official orders
providing that all those having "per-
sonal scruples against war should be
construed as conscientious object
ors.'"
LET me impress YOU what these Sc
cret orders mean," Major Foster con-
tinued; ait meant that every soldier
in the United States army could have
at any time gone to his commanding
officer and upon stating that he was
opposed to war, taken off his uniform
and refused to do military service
Set Up Hunger Strike
The officer related how objectors in
the guard house awaiting trial would
refuse 10. line up for mess, throwing
themselves upon the ground, kicking
and screaming. The objectors set up
hunger strike, he said, and ratified
their mess kits for hours at a time.
"ln the midst of this condition"
Major Foster went on, 1--WE took from
conscientious objector circular
sent out by Upton Sinclair. Socialist
leader, in which he reprinted letter
from Newton ID. Baker to the presi
dent Of the United States, answering
the president in regard to a complaint
Sinclair had made of mistreatment of
Socialists. The letter said;
Alleged Baker Statement
"I think, however, he should be in
formed that we are doing absolutely
all that public opinion will stand in
the interest of conscientious object
ors and others whose views do not
happen to coincide with those of .
vast majority Of their fellow country
men,
"Mr. Baker was right. He was do
ing all that public opinion would
stand in the interest of conscientious
objectors.
Baker Not Interested"
FL Paso. March 22.-"Don't read
me any more of that; have no inter
est in it," Secretary Newton ID. Baker
declared emphatically tonight at the
close of his Liberty hall address ON
the league of nations, when shown the
Associated Press report of Major
Dick b. Fosters Kansas City speech, /
in which he charged the war secre- !
tary of Intentionally or unintention-
ally aiding and assisting the /. w. |
w international Socialists and hu- |
manitarians in their program of /
blocking construction of the army"
After listening patiently while the |
first 200 words of the dispatch were
read to him, the secretary stopped the
reading in the middle Of a sentence,
brushed aside the report and insisted
that he had mo interest whatever"
in the utteranees of the ex-army Of
ficer.
81 have nothing to say about it,
absolutely nothing" he said as he
walked away.
However. Mr.. Bakers activities in
their behalf may have affected the
chances of so-called conscientious
objectors," it did not contribute to
their personal welfare and comfort at
Camp Cody There, as is well known
to every soldier who was stationed
here during the war, the conscien-
tious objectors were the especial tar
get of both officers and enlisted men,
who took out on the slackers the re-
sentiment they could not show the
war department at its ridiculous toll
Grafton of such nonsense. They got
the hardest work TO do and the most
assignments of all kinds,
including their full share, to put II
mildly, Of guard duty. II you went
into camp at any time and saw a man
performing a particularly arduous or
particularly dirty task, or both, and
made inquiry you invariably learned
that the man was conscientious OBJ !