Biography
Bert S. Cage was a conscientious objector from Mississippi imprisoned during World War I. Court-martialed for refusing military service, he was held at Fort Leavenworth; Fort Douglas War Prison Barracks. Sentenced to 25 years in prison, reduced to 3 years. (Documented in the Swarthmore College Peace Collection's World War I Conscientious Objectors database.) Archival note: registered for draft on June 5, 1917, as a C.O.; interviewed by Bd. on Jan. 5, 1919 at the Disciplinary Barracks ; charged with disobedience of orders & with desertion; sentenced to 25 years in prison, reduced to 3 years; imprisoned on November 25, 1918 (or as late as December 3rd); …
The March 1920 One Big Union Monthly prisoner roster, under the printed name CAGE, ROBERT S., reports: Arrested Milwaukee , Wis . , June , 1918. Turned over to military authorities and placed in guard house at Camp Grant , July 1 , 1918. Court martialed Oct. 8 for disobedience of orders and desertion . Sentence of 25 years reduced to 3 years June , 1919 . This is the contemporary labor organization’s account. Indictment, bail and imposed sentence are distinguished from physical admission, actual release and complete time served; no missing custody endpoint is inferred. Source: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/one-big-union-monthly/v02n03-mar-1920_One%20Big%20Union.pdf#page=8
The Fort Douglas photograph identifies him by surname among nine IWW prisoners, supporting the established military-confinement history. A separate report of J. Bauer’s release concerns alien-enemy internees and does not establish this military conscientious objector’s release date. The two legal custody categories are not conflated.
The One Big Union Monthly, June 1920, vol. 2 no. 6, PDF page 38.
