New-York tribune., 1920-10-25

partmet of Justice received an order
signed "T. w. Gregory" stallng off in
vestigation of Baldwin. Agencies out
side the Department. of Justice and
the War Department charged Baldwin
with aiding conscientious objectors
and he was tried and sentenced to a
year in prison.
Jubilant Over Command
It was after Baldwin went to Jail
that Secretary Baker issued the order
which he commanded "undcr no cir.
cumstances should be given to the
newspapers" and which demanded that
All conscientious objcctors snoud be
handled with tact and kindly consid
sideration. Jubiation over this order
was seen in the following correspond
encc between Baldwin and Edmund C.,
Evans. of Philadelphia. who wrote:
June s. 1918.
"Mr. Roger Baldwin,
"7O Fifth Avenue,
New York City
Dear Mr.. Baldwin: just q hasty
line of congratulation to the bureau
(Civil Liberties Bureau) and particu
larly to Roger N. Baldwin, for the most
excellent rulings just announced from
the office of the Secretary of War
concernings c. O.s. | do not see how
1t would be possible for the most rad
ical of us to have expected fairer
disposition of the case ] am certainly
proud to be connected with those who
have worked so hard for a proper un-
derstanding of the situation
"HDMUND c.. EVANS"
To which Baldwin replied under date
OF June 6. 1915
Thanks ever so much for yours of
June S. | am mighty glad that YOU
we're so pleased with the new order.
IT IS really comforting after all these
months of suspense and | do believe
our work has had good deal to do
with getting these results"
Reds Refused to Work
1t is recorded that at Camp Riley
where conscientious objectors were
quartered in tents, they refused to
work, even at sanitary tasks, declined
tc cook their own food. went on hunger
strikes and labelled their tents with
signs reading: "Bolshevists Tent.
Lenine and Trotsky Tent" "Interna
tlonal Socialist Tent" and other SINH
lar names.
because of extreme breaches of dis
clplinc some of them were confined
under Article of War No as. Among
these was Joseph Brandon, leader of
tne munger strikers. He was court mar
tlaled and sentenced on October /. 1918,
10 be shot. At this time loyal troops
were DONG some of their bitterest fight
ing IN Europe and dying by hundreds.
ne camp commander commuted Bran
don's sentence to twenty-five years i'm
prsonment. President Wilson later
scaled 1T to five years, and confden-
tial order from the War Departmen nj
then ordered his release.
Alter his sentence had been COM
muted Brandon wrote in a letter. datcd
November II, 1918: Prom what little
news we get we almost go crazv for
Joy when we read or hear that the Red
flag is rapidly waving over more and
more territory in Europe"
inc culmination of the War Office
record OF leniencv toward conscientious
opJectors came on January 16, 1919
when Secretary Baker issued an order
Tor the release of 113 of them with
'honorable restoration to-. duty and
Iheir immediate discharge from the
United Skates Army"
View of Men Who Fought
The following paragraphs. taken from
resolutions passed by the American
Legion IN all parts of the country, re-
flected the view Of the men who fought
for the United States:
w hereas, The War Department. in
contemptuous disregard of the resolu-
ton passed by the national caucus of
the American Legion, has permitted
certain OF the notorious and openly an
arch'suc obJectors, who have been tried
and convicted of trcachery hy court
/ ,1io+,
doned, restored to duty and honorablv
discharged, with all back pay, allow
ances a bonus and new suit Of clothes
something not furnished to the SOL
dlers who merely fought for their
country); and,
Whereas, this indefensible conduct
on the. part Of the War DEPARTING Mt
not only has brought shame and dis
credit to the men who fought to pro
'ect tins government, but has served tc
AID, abet and encourage the prowino
crowd Of radicals, Bolshevists and an.
archlsts. who are the avowed enemies
OF our country and ace serious men
ace to our nation; and
w hereas, the members Of the War
department, though manifestinc great
dlligence in furnishing the defenders
OF our country for the slightest in
traction Of military discipline, vet per-
slst IN showing such anxiety for the
safety and comfort of the conscicn-
t1ous obJector enemies OF our country,
now, therefore, be it resolved" etc.
1t was "resolved" by the Legion
that the officials in the War Depart
ment responsible should be DISCHARGED ID
and that laws should be enacted to
punish or deport the radicals.