The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-02-20
SLACkERS PAID BY
WAR DEPARTMENT
CONSCIENTIOUS DIRECTORS"
RECEIVED $45 PER MONTH
WHILE IN PEN.
RELEASED BY SEC'Y BAKER
MEN REFUSING TO, WEAR UNI
FORM TREATED SAME AS
THOSE WHO FOUGHT.

Leayenworth, Kas., Feb. 14-One
hundred and nine religious conscien-
tious DIRECTORS, after being "honorably
restored to duty" upon orders from
the War Department, were released at
the United States Disciplinary Bar
racks. Two of the total of 113 OBJ
jectors held here had refused dis
charges, as such would not be "for
the glory of God" and two were too
ill to go through the process today.
The good fortune which has ac-
companied the men who refused to
wear the country's uniform because
of scruples against war, continued
until they left the protection of the
government. Piled high upon a
desk in the barracks where the dis
charges were given was $33,600 in
cash, back pay and allotments for the
DIRECTORS, each of whom drew from
$500 to 5000. Because a prisoner in
$500 to $500. Because a prisoner in
the disciplinary barracks is supposed
to forfeit pay, none of the objectors
had received pay or his family allot-
ments until the order of Secretary
Baker restoring the men honorably
to duty was made That released $45
a month for each man for the time he
had spent in prison.
Soldiers sentenced to the disciplin-
airy barracks for breaches of army
laws receive no back pay, as the OBJ
jectors did today, unless the Judge
advocate who reviews their cases
rules they have been sentenced UNI
justly and should not have been im-
prisoned The directors get their
$45 month on special ruling that
applies only to directors. -
The men, upon buying railroad
tickets for their homes, were not
forced to pay more than the soldier
who served at the front, Mr.. Bakers
order making it possible for them to
ride at the two cent mile rate.
Although the conscientious objec-
tors were "honorably restored to
duty" by Secretary Bakers order,
their discharge papers are neither
honorable" nor "dishonorable" dis
charges The usual honorable dis
charge is on white paper, the dishon-
orable discharge on yellow paper. The
discharge papers of the conscientious
DIRECTORS were blue and bore the le-
gend:
So +
"This man is a conscientious :"
= objector. He has done no mill :
= tary service. He has refused to =
wear the uniform.
Feeling ran high against the objec-
tors among the men in the 49th In
fantry, returned to Fort Leavenworth
recently from France, officers said.
AS one veteran explained:
"There isn't an enlisted man in the
army who has saved $500 from his
pay. And here are these fellows, re-
leased prisoners, walking away with
what seems to the soldiers small
fortune"
1t was expected by officers assisting
in the discharges, some of the men
would refuse the money from back
pay and allotments. When some an.
nounced before being discharged they
couldn't take the money, because II
: wasn't for "the glory of God" officers
suggested it be given to a church
One man explained he was Child Of
God" but couldn't send the money
direct to God and would refuse to use
earthly channels.
However, as each man drew up be
fore, the desk piled with banknotes, he
accepted the money offered him with
out objection. Also he counted it very
carefully. The disbursing officer ex-
planned, in the confusion, some pay.
Z ments might not be correct. The gov
eminent would send any amount re-
manning du elf mistakes We're found
he said.