The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-01-11
LETTERS TO The EDITOR

an dlIdck upon our nation there would
be no need of draft. Much as I hate
war and the taking of human life /
would be more than ready VOLUNTAR
| lily to do my part and 1 think there
are few citizens that do not feel the
same way. | believe even those much
| maligned commies would feel a SINH
| lar urge. Then, WHY the CONSUMPTION
| law? There is to my mind no valid reas-
on for it and ONE VERY EXCELLENT
REASON OPPOSING IT namely; The
thirteenth Amendment to the consti-
tuition of the United States which says
in unequiVocal language-"No slavery
or INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, except
as punishment for crime, whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted
shall exist anywhere in the United
States or in any territory subject to
their jurisdiction" If that means any
thing (but it seems that the constitu-
ton of the u. S. has come to have lit
tie meaning to our elected officials
in the last forty years. it means just
what it says and if Noah Webster and
authorities who have since compiled
our dictionaries understand the Eng
lish language INVOLUNTARY SERVI-
TUBE means amy service unwiIIingIy
performed. Consequently if young man
is indicted into the armed service
against his will it constitutes a VIOLA
ton of the Thirteenth Amendment to
our U. S. Constitution.
If | may be pardoned personal rem
iniscence, [ attempted to make a test
Of that law back in 1917. We were en-
tering a war with Germany who had
already beaten France and England
practically to their knees. Powerful
Wall Street interests had loaned these
nations millions, which if Germany was
successful would never be repaid [
could see no valid reason why I should
fight to preserve the dirty dollars which
financial interests had "bet on the
wrong horse" and being perfectly
frank and just as vociferous then as
in recent years, l said so freely and
when the day came for me to register
for the draft I claimed exemption un-
der that same Thirteenth Amendment
Strange as it may seem, neither the
draft board nor the justice of the peace
were familiar with that Cor possibly
any other) portion of the Constitution
and the problem created a poser for
the local authorities.
had hoped that by claiming no |
other ground for exemption I might |
force the matter to a court decision |
but | was doomed to disappointment |
After some rather hectic experiences |
arrest without warrant, |
short period in the local 'hoosegow'' |
numerous Investigations by DEPART
nent of Justice agents (the predeces- I
ior of the present FBD and consider
able accelerated buck passing" the |
lraft board evidently decided that when |
said / wasn't going to war that I
meant / wasn't going to war and to
lVoid further complications placed me |
N "Class &c" Necessary agricultural |
worker in necessary agricultural en- |
erprise). Baloney, the little two bit |
farm that | was then OPP
,rating could have blown off the face
If the earth (some of it did in the late
wenties) without making the slight
st difference in Uncle Sans "agricul-
ural program" However class &c
vas one of the least likely to be called
nd since the program I had outlined
expended upon my being called and re-
using to go, my attempt was rather
Effectively circumvented
/ still maintain, however, that the
inscription law is a violation of the
constitution and / have about a half
lillion dollars worth of contempt for
he public servants who violated their
ath Of office in passing it and a mil
on dollars worth of contempt for any
ourt which would hold it constitu- i
onal.
Herein lies the greatest danger Gin /
~ Opinion) to our American tradition
freedom" 1t is not from the sub f
arsiVes and communists" who would S
overthrow the government by force
nd violence" CD but from the con- i
ant encrOachment by subservient pub
C officials upon our civil rights and i
lie violation of our constitutional guar c
ntees of liberty, equality and justice
Y our supposed public servants CD t
nd servile courts, and to no less a de- n
rec to the laxity and apathy of a citi-
,nry which is not constantly on guard u
defend those rights and to i'm 4
ediately resent their violation.
have seen how each encroachment r.
BON our civil liberties by a subser- a
ent congress, if unrebuked, encour-
ges a further and greater encroach-
ent and unless our somnolent citizen
rubs the sleep from it's eyes such
lcroachments will continue until our
)vernment may reach the point where n,
Abraham Lincoln once said, THE n
eople) may exercise their revolution -