Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15
RRUNIBAUGH TOOK
FULL RESPONSIBILITY"
Exemption Board History Told
by Governor, Secretary Baker
\ and A. Mitchell Palmer
WHAT LETTERS REVEAL
War Departments Caution Against
Partisan Appointments Ignored
by State Executive
SCRANTON, Pa, Aug. is.

SCRANTON, Pa, Aug, 10.
rorrespondence that passed between A.
,,,tcbeII Palmer, Democratic National Com
s,itteeman, and Secretary of War Baker
I'd between Baker and Governor Brum-
Soueb. dealing with the naming of ex-
smntion boards in Pennsylvania, made pub
iic here today goes to show that Brum-
hough. in naming the exemption boards,
saw to 1t that political friends were taken
Sare of. Palmer, named by Brumbaugh as
: member of the higher court in exemption
.,rcles, assures Secretary Baker that he will
accept the appointment.
palmer says in his letter to Baker that
one reason why the Governor failed to carry
ant Baker's instructions to get rid of po-
S,,caI appointees on the boards is due to
tbe fact that Brumbaugh preferred to rush
ssf IN the woods of Maine to spend his va
oa,,on and "allowed the Governors office
A. Harrisburg to be run by clerks, who
.oer, TO have no conception Of the serious
rees of the matter to which you (Baker)
have called the Governors attention"
Baker's letter to the Governor, dated
July 81, follows:
INV dear Governor Brumbaugh: My
.ttention has just been called to certain
newspaper statements, apparently printed
widely in the press of the State of Penn
svyania attributing to you an interview
IN which you disclaimed any personal
choice or responsibility on your part for
nominations made to the Provost Marshal
General and through him to me, for the
Presidents action in the appointment of
local exemption boards for the State of
pennsylvania The general effect of these
interviews is to commit you to the state
ment that you merely called upon Sheriffs,
MAYORS and other local officials to make
suggestions to you, that you passed them
along to me, and that the President made
the appointments on his own responsibility.
"Some other newspaper clippings have
In, \, ,tnh tatv hnt
and Sheriffs appear to disclaim having
been called upon by you for any such
recommendations.
81 hesitate to bring your attention to
this matter, based as it is, wholly upon in
formation derived from newspaper sources
and vet l feel that l must assure myself
that there is no possibility of misunder-
/ standing between us in this matter.
= "The theory of the execution Of the draft
law as adopted in the War Department and
consistently acted upon is that the Gov.
ernor, as the chief executive of the State
is looked to as the authoritative and re-
sponsibe agency for the selection and rec
ommendation of members of these various
exemption boards. This degree of co-opera'
. tion from the Governors is sought out OF
difference to the fact that the Governors
are themselves the choice of the people OF
their respective States. and their contingent
of troops to be furnished is the Offering OF
the State to the Government rather thar
an exaction of the State by the Govern
ment A Just and undiscrimnating execu
ton Of the provisions of the law alone vii
create a sense of patriotic loyalty among
the people of the States, and in order tc
secure this the President must have mer
upon these boards, both local and district
of high character and patriotic purpose.
cannot take the responsibility of recon-
mending single name to him which is no
known to me to be the name of such a man
II respectfully request, therefore, tina
YOU will let me know at once whether haV'
been right in my assumption that your per
sonal assurance lay behind each name sen
me by you, and that you accept full re
sponsibility for the nominations made.
your suggestions have been made upon an.
other theory and ] cannot say to the Presi
dent that he has relied upon your perform
ance of this duty in this spirit, l shall b.
obliged to ask the President to make an eX
cepton of the State of Pennsylvania ant
find some other way in which he can be as
sured of the character of the men whom h
ID asked to designate.
Cordially yours,
NEWTON y. BAKER,
SECRETARY of War"