Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 221, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1920 — NOT MANY CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LEFT [ARTICLE]

NOT MANY CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LEFT

Forty-one conscientious objector* are still being held in military prisons and disciplinary barrack* for their refusal to recognize and obey military authority, according to a bulletin issued by the American Civil Liberties union. Most of the sentence* these men are serving wil lexpire tin* year. Two sentences will expire in 1925 and one in 1923. A few will expire in 1921 and 1922. These objector* are remnant* of a total of 6,000 opt of 3,500,000 men called to the colors who refused to perform military service. The others accepted noncombatant service or went on farms, or with reconstruction units. Of those whose scruples prevented them from-rendering any service or obedience whatever, only fortyone remain, and these could obtain their liberty at any time, the union admits, if they would forego their scruples to the point of obeying the rules and regulation* and performing the duties required of other prisoners. * The union claims that America is the only country among those which recognized conscientious objection tp active participation in war, which has not long since released all men imprisoned for this reason. “These men,” says the union’s bulletin, referring to conscientious objectors still in military prison* in this country, “are being released slowly as their sentences expire oj by ‘special order* for reasons not explained by the war department, which has no consistent policy of dealing with conscientious objectors and never had any. All that can be said of the present policy is that the department will not release before expiration of full sentence men who refuse to work under military authority in prison. “There is no prospect for ‘general amnesty.’ Letters on specific cases addressed to the secretary of war may help in securing ‘special order*’ of release.* ; .