Evening star., 1923-12-29

Accepting as n fact that the release
of Lieut.. Hoover Griffis Of Ohio and
Eugene Nelson of Chicago. from the
sentence imposed on them for their un-
ortunate-because Observation-Disclosures
to return from Germany Grover Cleve-
land BergdolI, Philadelphia Stacker. to
serve his prison term, editors again are
insisting that some action be taken Off
ciaIly to get the Quaker city draft
dodger back in America. Emphasis is
placed by the Portland Journal on the
remarks Of the German prosecuting at
torney at the Griffis trial. in which he
expressed wonder at the apparent
apathy of America" and the Journal
editor asks pertinently. "Can 1t be tnat
there is some connection between the
seeming lack Of interest now and the
official Iaxity which permitted the MIL
lionaire draft-doger to leave prison to
search for his chimerical pot Of gold
and thereby effect his escape?
THAT sentencing Of Griffls to prison
was distasteful to the judge was evident
by the verbal flaying that the judge ad,
ministered to Bergdoll. Truly hergooll
is a person soorned-a man without a
country" The st. Louis Post Dispatch
suggests that a movement Is on foot,
headed by Maurice Sussman, FORMER
German soldier, who fought the Amert.
cans in the Argorne and lost MS rlgnt
arm, to get O. million signatures to a
petition to the German government to
set Griffis free. He recognises In the
American lieutenant true soldier ana
heartily condemns the action or the
German government in protecting q
coward and a traitor. 1t Is to be hoped
the German government will see the
wisdom of extending clemency to Gr1f1s.
The attempted abduction was an emo
tional outburst, which the law might
we'll condone."
X y \ \
The Miami News Metropolis. the
Springfield News and tho Dayton
News all agree "Grifis acquitted him
SELF in a manly, courageous manner
at his trial, and that his excoriation OF
Bergdoll before hostile audience
with the feeling that patriotism in
America Is a sinEu1arly impressive
element, which will lead q young man
Of prominent family In his own coun-
try to start out upon an adventure OF
this character with no other idea in
mind but to bring to justice q man
who had betrayed his country In the
hour of it's greatest need. Grims goes
to prison. But the chapter IL not end :
ed. Some day Bergdoll will get tired
or wandering around la LVIoASA
land. He viii be beset by his con-
science, which will show him his cow
ardice In plain and unmistakable
terms. Then the situation will be re-
versed." To which the Lansing Capt.
tai News adds: "Few have any use for q
known coward, be he friend or foe. IT
does not dishonor 0rifns to pay the
penalty for his failure" The Lansing =
State Journal also insists "the nation
is weary Of the Bergdoll case Berg
doll undoubtedly IL himself But
every step taken has drawn him
closer into the nat has made the In
fiiction Of penalty moro necessary.
4 + \ \
/ In the opinion Of the Topeka Capt.
tai "the most pregnant suggestion
made during the trial was that II
Bergdoli IL wanted In the United
states the state Department might
avail itself OF the right OF extradi-
judges Germany docs mot desire
Ber1doll, and would be glad to set
rid Of him. Hut - long ~ he n
there German law Will have to be
en1orcaA 70 tura succeestve viola