Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-19
TO PUBLISH ALL
SLACKERS NAMES
1891 on Govt. Records as Having
"Wilfully Failed" Their Country

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE war depart
ment will shortly publish the names of
1891 men who are listed in the records
as having "wilfully failed their coun-
try in its hour of peril. This army of So
called deserters and delinauents, who
total more than six full war strength
divisions of troops. were called to the
colors and neglected to respond, the de-
partment says. 1t Ia understood that the
names will be grouped by localities, and
soon as they are made public every
loyal American will be called upon to aid
the government in bringing these men to
justice.
In the roundup the war department. it
Is officially stated, will not pursue a
policy Of "justifiable leniency'' in dealing
with these persons. who are scattered In
all parts of the United States and In many
instances in foreign lands, particularly
In Mexico and other Central and South
American countries.
The statement issued yesterday from the
office of the secretary of war, in part,
reads:
"Out of over 100000 registrants the
maximum number chargeable with will
full desertion is 1891. considerably less
than one per cent of the total registration,
and a tremendous improvement over the
draft record of the Civil War. The war de-
partment in the near future, will pub
lish to the country list of men classi-
fled as willful deserters, and desires to
obtain the cooperation Of the various
State and local officials. patriotic So
cieties and other agencies. including the
department Of Justice. In bringing about
the apprehension Of these men. Assur-
| ances Of such cooperation have in many
cases already been given. Exact copies
of the list of names, grouped by States
or other convenient divisions. will be
| available for postmasters, police stations
, and other agencies.
Pending publication OF the list Of de-
serters any man charged with draft de-
| sertion who wishes to avoid the humilia-
ton of arrest may voluntarily surrender
at the nearest army post. camp or sta
ton, in order that his case may be in
vestigated and his status definitely de-
termined. In the event that any such
mans case shall have been finally dis
posed of prior to the publication OF the
list of deserters his name will be omitted
from that list.
Amy draft registrant who Is in doubt
| as to his draft status may write to the
acknowledgement OF the army Wash
ington, D. c.. and find out how he is
classified notwithstanding the fact tina,
ignorance of such status IL the regis
trants own fault. because of his lack
OF interest In keeping track OF his obi.
cations to the government
Tho war department wishes 1t clearly
understood that men who are guilty OF
willful desertion will not be relieved OF
the consequences of their misconduct
nor will they be discharged merely be-
cause they write to the Acknowledgement
he In
while the war department Is prepared
to give full information to the draft
registrants requesting 1t, as to what evil
dence Will he required in order to obtain
a discharge. the documentary evidence
required will be most rigidly examined
when it is submitted. and must show
conclusively that no injustice Is done tc
the government in granting discharge.
Draft deserters are men who regis
| tered and who were ordered ny the
draft authorities to report for military
duty at a specified time and place. ano
| who did not so report Such men are
| by law held to have been indicted into
| the military service OF the United states
where they remain until they are dis
charged. They are subject to trial by
court -martial for the offense OF desertion
Draft delinquents are men who were re-
ouired by law to register. but who failed
TO register, or who, although they regis
tered as required. failed to report Tor
physical examination, or failed to re-
turn properly executed missionaries.
These delinauents have not been IN
Quoted into the military service, and con-
| seauentiy are civilians, not subject "a
trial by military courts. The department
| of Justice is charged with bringing these
offenders to punishment. and has indicted
thousands Of them before the fedora
courts. Of whom a considerable number
have been convicted. The offense OF draft