The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-11-30
COMPLETING THE TASK

Secretary Baker Is completing his, ta..l, with
an industrious vigilance utterly lacking during
the dark and heroic days OF tho war. lie has
just auded % more conscientious objectors TO
his roll Of honor Those that remain within
prison walls will doubtless receive their pardon
honorable discharge ana travelling cxpcnscs
nome p"tore he leaves office, thus paving the
way for them to prefer their claims for nen.
slons or such other bcncfactions as "A lust and
grateful government may provide for It's de-
tenders.
As writer In the Washington Pox well says
OF tho Incident, why does he not go further
ana open the doors Of military prisons to all
offehdors except murdcrera? For there Is no
type OF criminal - repulsivo to tho patriotic
''iiyen as the csinging, skulklng coward who re-
fuses to fight for his flag and country"
we are disposed to object to the exception
given the purderor. The man who commits
murder In military affairs In very frequently
more OF hot-hcaded fighting man than a
criminals and character is preferable to tho
fnik-whites who have been the recipients OF the
Nender solicitudo OF the government
however, tho complaint II against tho INV
erhment ana not tho individual. The injury In
70 the true type OF patrio, and soldier who
aprnng To arms, submitted to necessary military
uiScipline served his country well and when
'he war was over cffnced himself quietly and
seh'lcmanly by an Immediate absorption in the
individual problems of life without "aernana!ng"
anything from his government above or be.
yond what he did demand before he became n
soldier and will continue 10 demand no long as
he remains citizen.
That Is the type OF patriot and soldier that
commands tho unmeasured devotion and SUPPORT
OF The World and good ctizens everywhere Not
TO the extent OF offering him a miscrab bribe
or hateful bounty: for that would be an insul,
which ho would rlghtfuily resent. But to the
extent that 1t Is privilege to know his kind 10
honor ana respect and love him always And
ir the Vicissitudes OF fortune serve him ilIy 10
spring to his relief and extend the genuine hand
OF brotherhood In the name OF a grateful coun-
try without division OF any kind.
We are persuaded that tho ninety n nd nine
who served Columbia in the late war are OF
this mould. We could not honor the mass IL
we did not believe that.
These are tho ones that Secretary Baker has
injured by his bencfactions to the shirka and
unpatriouc Every man that the articles of
war exacted toll from for dcrelction OF any
Kind. whether that toll was In money or a dc
NAL OF liberty for a time, wns victim OF Grass
Injustice In view OF the treatment OF these con
sclentious objectors who refused to even shoul-
der arms. And in the name OF government
the secretary has established precedent that
Will rise to plague the service for years to
! come. For II now sands written In the record
| that a man unwilling to serve his country may
| refuse TO do No and the worst that can happen
to him Ia to bc penned up In safety while his
follows are exposed to the hardshps of the
tented field: to be w.ned and dincd and at
, last restored to his citizenship with a working
capital furnished by tho government