Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-19
THE BERCDoLL REPORT

W w cannot play WIN pltCn without DtlhB
defiled. That is about the only moral,
the only thing actually demonstrated, in the
majority report of the House committee ap-
pointed to investigate and explain the escape
of Grover Bergdoll.
IL the House accepts the report without
question and without doubling the repeated
hints of criminaity and conspiracy among
commissioned officers, it will have to ap-
point another commission 10 look into the
morals of the army command Every uni
formed man who had anything to do with
Grover or his case, from General Ansel
and Colonel Hunt down to the two enlisted
men from whom the Stacker escaped in this
city, is passionatey recommended for dis
honoring punishment Of one sort or another.
The indictment extends even to the un-
named officers of the court martial which
refused to convict Colonel Hunt. commander
of the prison camp at Governors Island, Of
completely in plot to set the Stacker free
for a price. But should this report shock
ing as 1t is in what it reveals and suggests.
be accepted in toto by the House2
1t was written by Representative Ben
johnson. Of Kentucky, the man who drew
a gun and shouted threat to murder
witness at one Of the committees sessions.
1t was written in a white passion. That is
plain. IL reads like speech of denuncia
tion rather than like a judicial document
formulated by judicial minds. 1t is will
derness of rhetoric and in every way one of
the most unusual reports ever made by
congressional committee.
No judgment of the part played by army
officers in the Bergdoll case can be Just
unless it is founded on a reading of the
minority as we'll as the ajority report.
Two of the five members of the Bergdoll
committee hold that the officers SO bitterly
indicted by Mr.. johnson were guilty of
negligence. but otherwise without blame.
mo officer" says the minority report, re
ceived bribe or was approached with view
TO bribery
The ma jority is less restrained and not
nearly so careful in it's choice of words
General Ansell made the plot says Mr..
johnson: "he must have made the plot
Too often throughout the long report harsh
accusation is thus offered instead of proof.
The case of Bergdoll was revolving enough
in its obvious aspects. The Stacker has been
amusing his friends in Germany with ma
levolent and fantastic libels of the whole
American Army organization. Americans
themselves will hesitate before they consent
to applaud a congressional report which,
depending too largely on suspicion and in
ference, is such as TO corroborate the in
renegade.
General Ansell. former Judge Advocate in
the army did resign his commission to de-
fend men accused as Bergdol was. He was
equipped with great deal of technical
knowledge gained. as the majority report
observes, at the expense of the army and the
country. He was willing to use his special
knowledge to defend an enemy Of the coun-
try. He acted in a semi private capacity
for what must have been a humping fee.
Ansell's code Of ethics obviously was full
of holes. But in saying. without being
able TO prove. that he brbed a commanding
officer at Governors Island and corrupted an
army court martial and then worked "sor-
cery' In an army bureau at Washington
the report says what ought not to be said
unless it can be proved beyond question to
the satisfaction of those who have it in
their power to visit disgrace on traitors and
scoundreIs in high places. The charge made
In Representative JohnsOn'S report was not
proved to the satisfaction Of two of tire five
members of his own committee
Colonel Hunt obviously was negligent.
He permitted his prisoner To make Journey
in the custody OF his counsel Mr.. Gibboney.
Hunt saw n good many sackers He was
hardened to them. The weight of Ansell s
word and Gibboncy's word must have counted
heavily with him. Yet il Is obvious that
he could have entered into no plot without
seeing disgrace and pcrhal5 Jail for himself
in the immediate future. Perhaps Ansell
ought to be barred from rhe Federal courts
Perhaps Hunt ought to be drummed ont OF
the army. But Mr.. JohpsOns recommen
dations would count for more with ever,
sensible American II they we're not shriekeo
and screeChed in report that sounds as il
II were the result not Of caim deliberatiur
but of emotional frenzy.