The Washington times., 1923-08-29
FAVORS ASKING
GERMANYFOR
BERGDOLL
Legionnaire Thinks Country
Would Surrender Stacker
For PoIicy's Sake.

WYNN SNt - ~bbNSa ~s~A~'NO
For PoIicy's Sake.
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll prom.
Uses to become an international is
sue. He has been something OF the
kind for several years, 1t Is de-
clared, but since his Staying Of one
man engaged with others in a
futile attempt to bring him back
to the United States and justice,
his position has been made more
plain as one Of the leftover issues
yet to be dealt with to the satisfac-
ton Of some 100000 ex-doughboys.
This is the attitude of the legion,
as understood here, from state
ments made by ex-service men.
"Bergdoll will put in many years
in q Federal prison CELL" said one
OF the leading ex-service men to-
day. THE time is here when the
American government will be asked
to take specific action looking to
his expulsion from Germany.
Would Appeal to Germany.
Germany is seeking American aid.
In no way can that country create
q pro-Gerrnan feeling more surely
than by tossing that champion
Stacker out where we can get hold
Of him.
the draft dodger and get down to
brass tacks. Germany cannot con-
sistently offer him asylum, for il his
real character was made known 20
the masses Of Germans they would
run him out Of the country az an
undesirable citizen. We don't want
- -
giving the world an impressive les
son Of the proper fate of q despic-
able Stacker.
HE has ceased to challenge mere
ly the United States. He has be-
.pudiator whose contemplate atti.
tude is a continual insult to patriot.
ism in an international sense.
Brother Paid Penalty.
Among all the things the world
war produced, Bergdoll ranks as
the rankest when it comes to despic-
able illustrations Of manhood. His
brother paid the penalty for the same
offense charged against him. While
he will labor under e handicap, yet
in time he will regain g. position in
society and be accepted, at least, as
one who admitted his error and was
willing to make attonement.
The Bergdoll that Germany is
sheltering is so lacking in the
qualities men are made OF 1t seems
impossible he can find asylum in
any country on the plea that he Is
political offender Bergdon is
in no sense such a character. 1t
is a gross insult to men who have
constituted that class in history to
include him in the group.
Cannot Speak for Legion.
81 cannot speak for the Legion
as an organization. but I know how
SO per cent of the men feel. and il
Germany really wants to show a
spirit Of contrition for what she
was led into doing by INSCRIPTIONS
leaders, all she has got to do is to
put the spotlight on Bergdoll, size
him up for what he is, and deal
with him as she would deal with
other noxious menace within her
boundaries.
IT am sure all the legion will ask
is that Bergdoll be moved over the
German boundaries, with SwitZer-
land advised that the German ac-
ton is taken as expressing disap-
probation.
THAT attempts will continue to
be made to sneak Bergdoll out of
Germany, or any other country
harboring him, may be accepted as
certain. There are enough former
service men able to finance such
efforts, who have sworn to get him.
to make his capture and return to
the United States merely question
of time.
''It would be easy enough to as.
sassinate him, but that is the last
thing to be desired. He must be
brought back, and made to serve
his sentence.
Hughes Takes Up Case.
ut Is interesting to note that
Secretary of State Hughes has
taken up the Bergdoll case as it
effects the interests of the .Ameri-
cans implicated in the latest at
tempt to capture him. But the
Secretary Is expected to do some
thing more-make Germany under
stand the United States is DESTROYS
Of securing the person Of Bergdoll,
uninjured, and that this Govern
ment guarantees he will receive
only such punishment as his con-
duct merits.
Germany will recognize the
advisability Of acceding to the de.
mand and will have no difficulty
In discovering some legal fiction
justifying such action. It is all
nonsense talking of the opportun'
ity Bergdoll lost to distinguish
himself-he has distinguished him
self second only to Judas in spirit,
and he continues to do So"
Other members Of the legion
take practically the same position
Get Bergdoll" they say.