to continue their lawful avocations on the farm, in the shop, in the mills, than to support them in idleness, to detail a special force to guard them, and to ruin their health by harsh treatment? The Hofers case is an authentic instance of an infliction of tortures by methods which acknowledge no obligation outside of military authority. Jacob Wipf and the three Hofer brothers were members of the Huttrian sect, a small body residing in California, “They believed, with an intense conviction, that their duty to their God utterly precluded any submission to military command.... It must be remembered that this was no degenerate whim, nor yet the stubbornness of criminals--it was the highest spiritual conviction of deeply religious men.” They refused to wear the uniform. A mere outline of the penalties will suffice. Thrown into the “Hole,” 30 feet below the base of the building at the level of the sea. Murky atmosphere. Stripped to underwear. Handcuffed to an iron bar so that their feet barely reached the floor. Remained strung up for 36 hours. No food; one glass of water. Repeatedly beaten with clubs. Then for five days exempted from “hanging up,” but confined without food, or sufficient clothing. The authorities were finally broken, not these God-fearing men. It seems like a tale from the “Book of Martyrs,” not an event in a civilized nation. They were released from the dungeon broken in health, afflicted with scurvy, and after suffering a lot of petty persecutions, were transferred to another prison in a colder climate. Here they were placed in “Solitary,” with diet of bread and water, strung up for nine hours a day, forced to sleep on the floor. The cold draughts had a natural effect. When it was learned that they were ill, they were removed to a hospital where two of them died in a few days from pneumonia. The surviving brother, though scarcely able to walk, was mercifully released to accompany the dead bodies of the two brothers to their homes. Military vengeance was satiated. It is incredible to believe that such methods in this enlightened age are used. From the New York World, we note the following instances of treatment accorded to “objectors” at Camp Funston. Sleeping on bare floor. No food all day. Kicked repeatedly. Beaten with rifle butts, pricked with bayonets, dragged over filth, choked till they are breathless, placed under a cold shower at midnight, clothes and all, hung temporarily by the neck, some rendered insane for the time. It is hard to realize that such things could happen in America. Do we not speak of civilized warfare? Does war necessarily make fiends of men prematurely? It is a pleasure to report that the officers at Camp Funston responsible for these outrages were either dismissed or removed to a different field.