Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-30
PALMER PRESSES
DRAFT BOARD CASE
Wilson Leader Goes to Tell
War Office Boards Are
! Packed
DENIAL FROM GOVERNOR
Brumbaugh Calls His Accuser
Liar and Brands Him Either
Fool or Rascal

While A. Mitchell Palmer. ex-Representa.
tive and Democratic leader in Pennsyl-
vania, is in WASHINGTON today 70 tell the
Judge Advocate General Of the War De-
partment that politics has entered into the
reelection Of the conscrption boards In
Pennsylvania, Governor Brumbaugh Is out
with n red-hot interview In which he gives
his accuser the lie.
Charges made by A. Mitchell Palmer
that the Governor OF PENNSYLVANIA was
guided by political considerations in making
appointments to- the exemption boards
are absolutely false and baseless II he
aRys that / was guided by politics he lies.
II he does not know that I did not make
single appointment, he Is a fool; IL
knowing that did not make one appoint
ment he says what he is credited with
saying he is a rascal.
His statements, at least those attributed
b him, are on a par with those he made
year ago. when he said the Common
wealth was bankrupt And yet his hench-
men in the Legislature have Just finished
voting for appropriations Of $50 600, 900 to
t90, 100000. II what he said about the
Commonwealth's Q financial condition Is
true. then his henchmen are rascals II they
were right in voting these appropriations,
then he was wrong"
The Governor used these words in a
Statement at his home in Germantown.
which he reached last night from Harris
burg. This was another answer Of the
Governor to the accusations made by Mr.
Palmer before tho Democratic Club
Thursday night and amplihed in a state
nent yesterday.
CHARGES BY MCCORMICK
Vance c. Mccormick who was defeated
Dor Governor by Governor Br,imbaugh and
who is now Democratic national chairman.
has published in his paper the Harrisburg
Patriot, an editorial similar to the state
ment made by Mr.. Palmer
Governor Brumbaugh characterized the
attacks of Mr.. Palmer and Of Mr. McCor-
mick as being purely political moves for
the beneht Of the next gubernatorial cam
pRign.
1T is despicable that any effort to make
political capital for the next gubernatorial
campaign out Of the conscription and ex-
emption business should be made" said the
Governor.
Speaking further on his appointments the
Governor said
THE truth Of the matter is that all
boards were made by the officials at wash
mgton. I did not make a single appoint.
ment. In cities OF the first and second
classes the recommendations for appoint
ments were made by the Mayor. the reg
istratlon board and the city medical author
tiles; in the third-class cities by the City
Controller and the city medical authorities
In counties by the Sheriff, the president Of
the County Commissioners and the county
medical authorities.
"All these authorities were assembled at
q meeting in Harrisburg. open TO the public.
impressed upon them the Importance of
naming the highest type OF men that they
could. l tried to make plain all the re-
quirements OF the law. They forwarded
The lists to me- 7 transmitted them to
Washington, and there the appointments
were made" t..-
Denial of the accusations against Gov
ernor Brumbaugh was made by Attorney
General Brown last night He declared the
Governor had taken every effort to avoid
politics in the selection of members for
the various exemption boards.
''The charge Of Mr. Palmer is absolutely
without the slightest foundation" Mr..
Brown said. THE Governor has taken the
very highest ground in this matter and has
absolutely excluded politics. The Federal
Government desired the Sheriff the chair
man OF the County Commissioners and the
county medical officers 10 serve on the con.
scrtption boards and these men were elected
In every Instance the Governor tried to
get the very best men that could be found,
and he never once considered whether a
man was Republican or a Democrat"