Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-13
Exploiting of Children Opposed

Exploiting children through or
eanized sentimentalism" in the IN
terest of wartime prisoners Is not
approved, even by those editors who
are intellectually in sympathy with
its purpose. and, needless to say, I'M
oualifledly is condemned by news
papers which oppose the release OF
the men serving sentences for war
obstruction. Accordingly, President
Hardings stand in refusing to see
tho child crusaders who have in
vaded Washington in the attempt to
secure the release Of their fathers is
applauded by practically every paper
which comments on 1t.
The Richmond Times Dispatch
(democratic) expresses the general
feeling of sympathy for the children
themselves when It says ut is I'M
fortunate that a child's appeal for the
release Of an imprisoned father must
be considered in relation to other
things than the personal satisfaction
and happiness Of the child" but IN
this case the universal appeal OF
would be thoroughly unfair to tho
President to interpret his refusal to
be moved by 1t "as rejecting q stony
indifference to the voices and heart
breaks Of childhood"
However, since the entire movement
is 80 palpably "a bold attempt to force
his hand" as the Seattle Times Gin
dependent republican, puts 1t, the
Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph (re-
publican) has no fears that the Presi-
dents action will be wrongly dag
nosed by those who wish to under
III 10
simply done the wise thing. In the
opinion of the Fremont (Neb)
Tribune (republican) by refusing ito
allow the sentiment attached to the
child crusade to influence his judy
"The children Of criminals always
suffer" observes the Minneapolis
Journal independent republican,;
shat is one Of the evil results OF
crime. But society cannot afford to
have criminals turned loose for that
reason Alone" and "if the presence in
Washington Of these sorely hurt chill.
dren were to swerve justice In the
treatment Of war criminals" why.
asks the Grand Rapids Herald IRE
publican), should it not also justify
the release Of murdereFs, bank rob-
bers, grafters and pickpockets?'t If
sympathy for those particular little
sufferers were to mean the success Of
their mission. the Indianapolis News
independently sees the establishment
Of a principle whereby all a defend
ant need do in court is bring his baby
and assure his acquitta1." This staged
Crusade" the News declares, ia
hiding behind children" another ex:
(springheld, republican, adds. "of the
cowardice which was really at the
bottom Of SO much Of the conscien-
ious objection Of the war days"
It is manifestly the right and the
duty Of the President and his Attor-
of clemency toward wartime of%
tenders undisturbed by NOISY clamor''
and the Inconvenience Of importun-
ing petitioners, and "if they are con-
ststent," the Oklahoma City Okla
homan (democratic) says. they will
grant the petition" because they set
an unfortunate precedent in the case
Of Debs." by which they have raised
the hopes Of the other violators Of the
espionage statutes" The men who are
in federal penitentiaries today for Sc
dition and raft-dodging," declares
the Asbury Park Press independent
democratic), ARE there because they
nation" and 1t agrees with the New
york Tribune (republican) that ito
show especial leniency to these men ID
to put . premium on dtsloyalty In the
future" -
Whatever the merits Of their cause.
the promoters Of the CRUSADE" have
probably worked to defeat their own
ends, the Philadelphia Bulletin Gnde-
pendent republican, suspects, because
fright seldom conquers or achieves
anything simply by making a nuis-
ance of ITSELF" by tactics that do not
carry conviction" and 1t is not I'M
likely that "this exhibition will have
"a reaction in the executive mind
wholly opposite Of that which ts de-
genuinely "children's crusade" the
little people would. have had a kindly
and sympathetic hearing" the -Phtla-
delphia Public Ledger .(independentl
asserts, "for the Presidentats the most
kindly and sympathetic OF men. He
knew. however, whose hands led the
children to Washington and why they
were led" and that it was "a careful.
'ly organized stunt Of the professfUna!
radical and perennial agftator," and
he was entirely right when. hes de-
clared that. the "theatricality" Feuld
not serve to move him.
This attitude does not appeal g
tirely disingenuous, for ''to q nation
whose entire public life. has been
governed for five years by heavily
financed propaganda parades for any
thinR the special interests wanted.
from preparedness for war to Hard
ness to stage effects. the Call
thinks, has a favor Of political
aranting, however, that the chill
dren's crusade" may be misguided
tactics, the Boston Post Qndependent
democratio( still holds that Tiers y
40 doubt that g ge4srl review e