Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-03-11
THOSE WHO DoDGED THE DRAFT

Men who wilfully or technically
or unintentionally evaded the draft,
did not obtain absolution when the
war ended" comments the New Or
leans States (dem.), on Secretary
Bakers order. to round up those who
escaped military service against Ger
many by violating the selective serv-
ice act. Those whose record is not
clear" the States adds, will do well
to prepare their defence. if they have
any"
The war departments figures
show that altogether 325,265 men
violated the draft law, at least in a
technical sense. But 151,354 of
these cases have been set aside as
''non-wilful," as it is shown that
the men affected had already joined
the colors voluntarily or were other
wise excusable. There remains 49,
GIL cases classed as "wilful," and
the government proposes to run
them down. 1t seems like large
number. but as the Buffalo Evening
News (rep) points out, consider
ing the great number of young Am
orleans that were involved in the
draft, the number of wilful slackers
was comparatively small. Nor will
that number stand" the News goes
on, "for many youths so listed found
their way into the service without
knowledge of the draft boards. The
final count may show no more than
100000"
All of the names will be publish
ed, and thus innocent suspects will
have chance to clear themselves.
Those who fail to do so will be APP
pretended and courtmartialed, il
possible. 1.-THE prosecutions will
emphasize a logged quality of the
federal government which has given
wrongdoers no end of grief" says
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (ind.
rep.), and continues
During the war the news dispatch
es contained reports from draft
evaders' colonies in Mexico from time
to time. q When the armistice
was signed and it appeared that
there would be no more fighting
these exiles drifted back to the
country they would not defend. They
came back from Canada and from
various places of concealment cheer
fully confident that their troubles
were over Their error lies in mis-
Judging the governmental memory
which is aided by the permanent re-
cord in Washington.
The Philadelphia Press (rep.) J,
sees a danger that merely technical
offenses will be too severely pun
ished:
While II will doubtless be neces-
sary to impose impressive punish
ment on draft dodgers whose guilt
is incontestably proved, 1t is to be
hoped, and 1t is highly possible, that
those who sit in judgment on the
cases will make all possible allow
ances for innocent, IL unexcusable,
ignorance, as opposed to malevolent
sloth. II will also be one of their
immediate duties to clear of dishon-
OF the names Of those who died be-
tween the dates Of registration and
induction, and who were erroneous
ly charged with desertion.
It occurs to the Baltimore Sun
lind. dem.) to wonder eff 10000
men should be Jailed under these
proceedings, Is there prison room
enough to accommodate them?" and
the Sun suggests that Sin view OF
the fact that any conscientious OBJ
jectors' we're released from prison
with bonus and an apology, II
might be wiser to enter d general
non pros against these slackers. T"
But with such a policy the Home
Sector, published by A. p. F. men
has no sympathy. "These men
skulked while others were suffering
and justice and respect for the law
demands that they be made to suf-
fer now"