El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-22
AnSeU attacks
Courts Martial
Qui&COn1n1ittee
Says One Member Staunch
Supporter Of Crowder;
Justice May Suffer.


washington, D. C.. April 22.-CoL
Samuel r. AnseIl. former acting Judge
advocate general and chief figure in
the attack upon the army disciplinary
system, Monday accused the commit
tee OF the American Bar association Of
having placed itself under the DONNA
tion OF the war department in its In
vestigation OF military justice and Of
shutting its eyes TO the truth His as
.sertion was promptly challenged by
chairman Gregory. who said IF you
are for justice. this committee viii
strike hands with YOU
Col Ansen specifically attacked the
right Of Mortin Conhoy. Of New York.
to sit on the committee. The relation
ship between Couboy and Mai Gen
Crowder, judge advocate general had
been such. Col AnselI asserted. as to
make him "a staunch supporter OF
Gen Crowder- For that reason. Col
Ansell said, Mr.. ConbOy should with
draw from the committee.
Conboy Il Not Present.
Mr. Conboy was not present at the
session. hut judge Gregory pointed ont
that he and the other members OF the
committee had known Gen CroWaer
and respected him highly. and added;
7 DO not think that would influence
my mind"
Col. AnseII was assured by Judge
Gregory that he might have all the
time he wished TO present his case or
to call officers or others whose views
he wished to be presented He did not
pass Monday beyond the legislative
history Of the articles OF war. seeking
to show that they have never been
changed substantially or brought Into
harmony with American ideas OF right
and justice
Col. Anseu opened his hearing with
a prepared statement, which he de-
clared his conscious required him to
make before he could proceed His at
tack upon the method and personnel Of
the committee was contained IN this
document
Committed To Do Harmf
Declaring that he was the leading
opponent Of the army court system
and had been subjected to military
restrictions" in his efforts to reform
il. the officer said the fact that the
committee at this rather late date
had asked him TO appear was signifi-
cant TO him. He expressed regret that
the committee did not call him sooner
in order that he might have better
prepared the case he desired 10 pre-
Military justice" Col. Anseu said.
lis not being best served by the meth
committee. but on the contry, stanQs
in fair way TO suffer at your hands
Alleges Partially TO Officers.
Lieut.. Col Anseu continued today
his attack upon the army system OF
justice before the investigating COM
mittee OF the American Bar assOcia-
ton Declaring IL a fact that the en-
listed man did not receive the same
consideration Of his rights under the
g "a Of aHrHn q
sell argued that the only remedy lay
in writing into the law the provisions
Of the rights OF the soldier While this
is left 10 regulations 70 be prescribed
by the president, he said, IL cannot be
effective. The attitude Of the arti-
cle" he added. has been intolerant
toward those methods necessary 10
justice. They DO not take kindly to
legal restraints"
While a commander OF troops must
necessarily have arbitrary power o.
command. the officer asserted. 10
should not go to the extent Of permit
ting them to hang men,
Congress should Make Rules.
Congress cannot command the
army" Col Anseu declared, but con-
gress should prescribe the rules for
its discipline II you are going to have
not get IL by committing Il 70 de-
partment regulation If it IS 10 be
left there all this agitation viii have
been in ain"
The officer asserted that there had
been a strong effort by the war de-
partment TO have the people. and per-
haps this committee. believe that there
was "A substantial revision" Of the ar
ticles Of war in 1916. This was not
the fact. he said His attention was
directed to recent statements by Gen.
CroWder showing that he agreed that
h. I'd
These statements Col Anseu charec-
terized as evidence OF a change Of
heart" on Gen. Crowder's part. but he
declared that such statements by that
officer or secretary Baker were not
made in a way to assure me as would
q raEnra Ole rannrr by this conrnIrrea-n