Robert Follette letter to Champ Clark - April 29, 1919
Transcript
29 April 1919. Hon. Champ Clark, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Speaker: Copy of telegrams received from Theo. H. Lunde, Chicago, is inclosed. The conditions of which he complains probably could be remedied if a number of Senators and Congressmen would wait on Assistant Secretary Keppel, and request more human treatment of these prisoners. Would you join in such a visit to the Department? If so, please advise me by telephone or otherwise, and a convenient time for the visit to the Secretary will be arranged. Very truly yours, Robert M LaFollette
Transcript
copy Chicago, Illinois, April 28, 1919. Senator La Follette, Washington, D.C. New regime at Fort Leavenworth. Prisoners committee discharged. Commandant Rice presumably dismissed. Underground messages through different channels report concentration of political conscientious objectors in unsanitary, inadequate post guard house. Water cure again practiced soaking clothes and bedding all of which those just out of solitary confinement on bread and water and others still under the effect of previous maltreatment. Are in no condition to endure without serious permanent consequences. I have telegraphed Senators Norris, Borah, Reed, Kenyon, Capper, Johnson, Gronna, Gore, Chamberlain, Sherman, McCormick, France and Congressmen Reavis, Britten, Huddleston, Mann, Sabath, Yates, Huaghan, Phelan, Champ Clark and Clyde Kelly to confer with you. Will you not form a committee of these and ask Keppel why these in the cantonement could not be left in peace and why those from solitary were not transferred to the cantonement where room and facilities are ample instead of to the guard house which is a jail and no place to recuperate emaciated victims of the solitary. Will you not demand that further experiments to break these determined souls cease as it can only result in broken bodies or death. Rumors persist that they will be transferred to Alcatraz May first perhaps to torture their victims without interference. Will you not act. Sincerely yours, Theo. H. Lunde April 28, 1919. Senator La Follette, Washington, D. C. Following letter received from an attorney at Fort Leavenworth. Another atrocity at the post guard house. A three inch fire hose turned on the conscientious objectors there last night under the direction of the officer of the day I am told and the room was soaked until there were some inches of water on the floor. The boys are quiet pacifists and political objectors they were drenched through and forced to sleep all night in that condition. Today they were again refused dry clothing or bedding. It is very chilly. Theo. H. Lunde
Details
| Title | Robert Follette letter to Champ Clark - April 29, 1919 |
| Creator | LaFollette, Robert M. |
| Source | LaFollette, Robert M. Letter to Champ Clark. 29 April 1919. Clark, Champ (1850-1921) and Bennett Champ (1890-1954), Papers, 1853-1973. C0666. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this April 29, 1919 letter to Champ Clark, Senator Robert M. LaFollette enclosed two telegrams from Theo Lunde, which described the deplorable conditions that war prisoners were being contained. Champ Clark, a long-time resident of Bowling Green, Missouri, was a politician in the Democratic Party. He served as a representative of Missouri from 1893 to 1895 and from 1897 to 1921. From 1911 to 1919 he served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. |
| Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; La Follette, Robert M. (Robert Marion), 1855-1925; World War, 1914-1918--Prisoners; Conscientious objectors |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C0666 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | April 29, 1919 |
| Language | English |