New-York tribune., 1919-04-09

with a view to disciplinary action.
FRANKLY, | do not expect the Secre-
tary OF War to do his duty in this re-
gard
THE author of the communication
comedies that he has been in no posi-
tion to know anything about the sub
Ject during this war He saws:
My official duties, however, have
been almost entirely in the office of
the provost marshal general and l have
not prepared with a single exceptlon)
any official opinions on the court mar
llal records. am, therefore, not i'm
pNcated IN any criticisms upon the
court martial system
He should have added-and per-
maps with even greater truth-that he
KNOWS nothing about the court mar
tial system IN any respect. He is
SIMPLY the counsel for the Secretary
oI war and the Judge advocate general,
engaged IN special advocacy in their
Wigmore States Position
Fol lowing is the text of Colonel Wig
more's letter:
.,, Washington, March, 25. 1919.
10 MY Fellow Members Of the Bar in
the United States:
"Herewitn is inclosed to YOU a COW
OF letter sent this month to the Sec
retary of War by the Judge advocate
general, Major General Enoch H.
Crowder. 1t was evoked by recent
complaints about the system Of mill
tary justice uttered on the floor Of
congress and in the press.
ne principal Congressional speeches
on TINS topic appeared in The Con-
gressIona. Record for January 3. Jan
vary rs, February la, February 81 and
Narch 4, and these criticisms. together
l.
Iore the Senate Committee on Military
AHalrs during February, have been
gwen by the daily press considerable
pupncity OF sensational nature.
notably IN The New York World of
January 10 and later dates, and in
The Philadelphia Public Ledger.
he testimony at the committee
hearings WI probably not be printed
ior some time to come; and it will
form large pamphlet, requiring
patent study for extraction of the
general gen "a i, features of fact. Meanwhile,
the lack of any publicity for the de-
fence to those criticisms will have left
the intelligent public under the i'm
pressiOn that there is and can be no
defence. although the contrary is the
case. 1t has therefore seemed prope
and necessary TO give circulation to
this letter.
Public Needs Information
I'm the Official Bulletin for March
and March 10 will be found two let
ters OF General Crowder, addressed in
reply to a letter of request from the
Secretary of War. The first letter, of
date February 13, deals at great length
with the specific criticisms voiced in
the speech Of Senator chamberlain,
published January 3. The second let
ter, OF date March 3, surveys briefly
the entire field of complaint But the
subject is too large for adequate reply
IN brief letter. Moreover the intel
llgent public needs, as the foundation
OF Its judgment, an educative descrip-
ton OF the system of military judicial
procedure as it actually is. This is
furnished by the present letter
1T would be presumptuous in me to
suppose that the distinguished Judge
Advocate General needs any assistance
from me in securing credit for his ut
terances. But, so far as my name is
known to the American bar, am keen
ly desirous to do my part in securing
just verdict for our military sys-
TEN in the forum of public opinion
And that part can be contributed by
urging upon my fellow members of the
bar a careful study of this prescnta
tion by the Judge Advocate General.
"ln addressing you in this direct
fashion, am deliberately breaking
through the etiquette of the military
service. vigorously observed by me
since my call to active duty in July
1917. | am on the point Of receiving
my honorable discharge q hope) with
in few weeks, and | speak to you ir
this letter not merely as an officer OF
the army but also as member Of the
bar of thirty years standing, who has
happened to have intimate observation
of the methods of military justice dur
ing the war as we'll as of the principa
personages in charge of it in Wash
ington.
Some of the court martial records
recently discussed in the public press
had been submitted to my scrutiny al
the time they were originally pending
for action. Many of the events oil
1917 and 1913 publicly discussed ir
! Congress were the subject of persona
/ knowledge on my part. My officia
duties, however, have been almost en-
tirely in the office Of the provost mar
/ with a single eXception) any officia
opinions on court martial records.
81 am, therefore, not implicated ir
! any criticisms upon the court martial
system. | have nothing to hope anc
nothing to fear from the authorities OF
the War Department. | have always
in our civil profession, acted sympa
thetically and spoken frankly in the
cause of the reform of justice.
The legal profession, by it's firmes
traditions and daily practice. is accus-
/ toned to recognize the necessity OF
hearing both sides before passing flna
/ judgment. | therefore make this per
sonal appeal to my fellow members o,
the bar to peruse the inclosed letter
and to give due weight to its presenta-
ton. When the entire facts shall hav,
been brought out and the motive:
behind the recent press publicity
become plain, you will be we'll satisfied
that you did not allow yourselves tt
be carried away by first impressions
gained from sensational headlines, ex