Show I Let us have faith that right light makes might and andin andin in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty I as we understand it Lincoln Coddling Conscientious Objectors readers are arc familiar w with th the character charac- charac ter tel of or leniency extended to conscientious objectors since the signing see see- of the armistice Nevertheless l the secretary secretary sec sec- rotary of war has lias escaped severe secre condemnation by reason rea rca son on of the fact that the general public never considered t this his coddling g as a n 1 part art of our our m military policy Mr L Baker however cr must appear in a n different light as ns the tho formal a order relating to conscientious objectors is submitted to the Senate military affairs committee investigating arm army court courts in Jn this order Mr Baker directs that flint military au- au deal with Hh t conscientious objectors with consid consid- c consideration and tact taco He them not to consider these slackers s as violating military laws Jaws Is it strange that this order concludes with the demand to withhold the information from newspapers If we wc were a nation of or spineless pacifists Mr r. r Bakers Baker's friendliness for colts con colt conscientious s objectors mi might ht be bc forgiven It can call nc cr never be bei i 1 forgiven however by y a country which offered five million million mil mil- lion heroes on the thc altar of warWe war We sec see no particular change in the heart hent of Mr i Baker despite espite startling revelations lie lIc has leas always allays appeared appeared ap ap- as a pacifist t himself That he has hns always nourished nourished nourished nour nour- conscientious objections may be gleaned from his statement in the thc first days of the conflict to the effect that the he war was as three thousand miles awn away Nevertheless less we desire to join in the mighty protest which must b greet the showing that the conscientious objector received d more consideration than the man who dared all the fire and fur fury of or war for his country No returning soldier sol sol- soldier dier can indorse the attitude of the war department asit as asit asit it relates to 10 the objector and no family that offered lifer life r and blood in the conflict can ignore it I Plainly it is a a. discrimination against the man in the uniform a prejudice in keeping with the assaults conducted condu conducted con con- du ducted by the I. I W. W W. W Socialists and pacifists in the first days of the war ar It is more than mercy for the coward coard for it has bas been shown in the Senate investigation investigation- that Mr Baker refused to permit General Ansell acting judge o oto advocate to take advantage of a law which seems to give him authority to re review ew martial courts proceedings proceedings proceedings proceed proceed- ings a in the face fac of many flagrant an ant violations of or justice aThe The service service performed for con conscientious objectors is more apparent when some of or the sentences of courts- courts martial for trivial tri offenses are arc revealed Before the thc Senate committee many cas cash cases s offensive to Ameri American Amerin n honor and justice were outlined by witnesses Among i. i them may be cited the following j. j Tit The death penalty was imposed but lint not not- exacted rn cn n a soldier refusing to drill because he pleaded he lie wasill was wasill ill and physically unable to obey A soldier in this country went to the thc bedside of his dying father without leave returning after the death of his parent The death sentence was imposed although not enforced Forty years in n prison was the sentence imp imposed cd but not executed on a pr private who refused to give up upa a n package of to his superior officer a second lieutenant A private who went home without leave to see his wife jfe and sick siek baby in destitute circumstances was given fifteen years though h the punishment was not inflicted Two men men hi in n Pr France were v rc tried for sleeping on duty duly I They had bad been on duty duLy for five consecutive Ye n nights and could not sleep in iu daytime because wood was being chopped in their dugout They were sentenced to death and nd were saved by executive interference only by the narrowest marg margin n. n Jn Zo the light liht o of these examples of outraged Justice justice is it strange that Mr L Bakers Baker's coddling of or conscientious objectors should come in for censure II It is apparent that the military laws were applied with ith a vengeance to fo tomen m men n nho who ho had no scruples n against war while men with scruples per personal onal or religious were sent home w with wild l a blessing and a bouquet i in i 1 their buttonhole fan Efi fig tei t fen P |