Evening star., 1939-09-10
Discusses Role Of
War Opponents
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.

war 1t seems likely that the problem OF
the conscientious objector in the pres
ent struggle in Europe will be of serious
proportions. Since the close of the last
great war peace organizations have made
long strides and If they are able to hold
their membership and if their members
adhere to the pledges they have taken,
the numbers refusing any kind Of war
service will be very large.
There have been conscientious objec-
| tors to war in many nations, but they
| have made their position most felt in the
| United States and Great Britain and
| that position has been the source of much
| trouble to the individuals themselves
and to their governments.
In the war of the American Revolution
and again in the War Of 1872 members
of such religious sects as the Quakers
and Mennonites voiced their objection
to war activity of any kind and were
recognized but by no means excused.
They were subjected to burdensome fines
and, of course, to general persecution
This was true even in peace times when
these religious objectors refused to recog-
nize an obligation to perform militia
duty. Eventually, but not unx0 the pass
age of years, State constitutions granted
militia exemptions to religious sects.
When the Union voted the first draft
in March, 1868, it was not until after an
effort had been made in Congress to
exempt conscientious objectors. The ef
fort failed completely but the draft act
did carry a provision for the hiring Of
substitutes for $500 by drafted men or
their relations or friends. Some of the
members of religious sects did hire sub
stitutes, but large numbers, especially
members Of the Society of Friends, re-
fused to do so on the ground that such
action would be tacit negation of their
religious faith, the hiking of man to
fight being practically as sinful as fight
ing oneself.
President Lincoln and Secretary Of
War Stanton manifested much sympathy
for the religionists and in the second
draft act of February, 1864, a provision
was embodied providing an alternative
service of non -combatant character,
such as service in hospitals and the care
of liberated slaves. Also, it was provided
that the $500 which would, in other
cases. go to the hiring of a substitute in
the cases of the religious objectors would
60 to care for sick and wounded soldiers.
There were fewer conscientious objec-
tors in the Confederacy than in the
Union, but, such as there were, were
treated with greater severity. This was
due to various reasons. Many of them
were opposed to slavery and to secession
and, therefore, at political odds with the
great mass of the Southern people They
had to pay $500 for substitutes as against
$500 in the North. There was an acute
shortage of men in the South too, and
| that. together with the sufferings of the
whole population, stimulated bitter feel
ing against men who refused to bear
arms. There were many cases of bru-
tality, such as hanging by the thumbs.
but investigations have shown that sub
ordinate officers and privates were more
often responsible for this treatment than
responsible officers.
At the advent Of the World War, both
Britain and the United States produced
large numbers of conscientious objectors
in addition to the regular religious objec-
tors Even before Britain adopted con-
scription, the objectors became articulate
in anticipation and when conscription
came, in January, 1916, there was in
existence a strong organization known
as the No-Conscription Fellowship. which
undertook to represent obiectors before
draft boards and other authorities The
Society of Friends performed similar
! services
There was no provision for the hiring
! of substitutes. but the draft act did rec
| ognize objectors and sought to provide
! for alternate non combatant service Of
national importance. Difficulties imme-
diately arose, and. the temper of the
authorities being what it was during the
war fever, the objectors were not gently
| handled. Even such leaders of the peo-
| pie as Philip Snowden and David Lloyd
| George could not bring themselves to
| defend what were known as the
"conchies." The tendency to regard them
, as slackers, no matter how sincere they
| actually were, was strong.
Various solutions of the problem were
| tried. OF the 5000 British objectors.
$500 took service in -combatant
corps of the army, such as fatigue bat
| talions. There were 1900 in the Friends
Ambulance Unit and some 5000 were
given civilian work under the Pelham
| Committee. A total of 6,26l men were
court-martialed for refusing any mill
tary orders for any type Of service. A
number were sent to France where "a
were sentenced to death. sentences later
commuted to 10 years Imprisonment. All
objectors were disfranchised, the vote
not being restored until five years after
the armistice. However, after the war
sentences were commuted and the objec-
tors released.
When the American selective service
bill was under debate in Congress amend
ments offered exempting objectors were
rejected as providing loopholes for draft
evaders. As passed, the act did exempt
members of pacifist religious sects with
the proviso that they remained liable to
non-combatant service. Friends, Dunk
ards, Seventh Day Adventists - more
than q score of sects-were included In
| tho ovanptiop Incal h0ards allowed