Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
Wire-Pulling Under Way.

On all sides stories are pouring into
! Washington of attempts of politicians
| to have themselves placed on the con-
scription and exemption boards. and
senators, representatives and other high
| government officials are being be-
| sieged by parents and friends, asking
that certain registrants be exempted
/ from conscription and attempting to
bring influence to bear in favor of such
proposed exemptions.
remarkable stories are being related
| around Washington at first hand in re-
gard to such attempts. A wealthy
manufacturer recently approached a
United States senator saying that he
had allowed" his boy to register, but
that he would depend upon the senator,
an old friend. to see that his boy was
not conscripted. The senator resented
the idea that he would lend himself
to such an attempt, and was indignant
because the wealthy manufacturer
should dare SO to approach him. The
manufacturer left the senator's room
and on his way out of the Office told
the senator's private secretary that
there is $4,000 in it for you II my boy
is not conscripted."
The senator's secretary Immediately
informed his employer of the matter
automobile, it is said, to call upon the
Attorney General and lay the facts be-
fore him.
Another United States senator few
eral Crowder II it would be possible
for him to see the list of those sug-
gested for conscription and exemption
boards in his own districts at home.
Gen. Crowder assented. The list was
inspected. and. as the senator sus-
pected. a certain politician had had
himself placed on one OF the boards
The senator promptly set to work to
get the politician OF the board.
Purnose of Politicians
Politicians generally throughout the
country, it is said, have endeavored to
have themselves placed on these boards,
for purposes. it is widely believed, Of
favoritism in connection with the COM
Ing draft. or. in some cases. for the
purpose of making money by engi-
neering exemptions for wealthy men or
to hit at political opponents. Letters
have reached officials in Washington
from politicians who have made the
downright. frank statement that they
are seeking influence in Washington to
have themselves put on the boards so
that they may be able to be of service
to friends in their home communities in
connection with exemptions.
Hundreds OF instances also have come
to the attention of officials in Wash
ington in which parents or other reIa-
tives have sought positions in Wash
| ington und>r the government, at nomi-
nal pay, for young men of conscriptable
age. with the idea that service In
| civilian bureaus here will exempt these
young men from serving with the col
ors
The President, It Is believed. has been
placed in full and complete touch with
these activities. and is indignant that
at this time Of national anxiety and
duty such attempts should be in
process Of making. His advisers are
before the plans for the draft army are
fully completed that will completely
prevent the possibility of any taint Of
| suspicion attaching to the draft There
were reports in Washington last night
that in some election districts and COM
munfties which are normally democratic
in politics. not single republican has
been suggested for the conscription and
exemption boards and that in some dis
tricts and communities which are nor
mally republican in politics not
single democrat has been named for the
boards.
Tactical Mistakes.
Persons in Washington who are stu
dents of politics last night pointed out
that such tactics. in selecting the
boards. as those just named, are "the
poorest kind of politics." 1t was point
ed out that a democratic community
which named a board consisting SOLELY
of democrats made a tactical mistake
in not placing on their board some re-
publicans to share with them the re-
sponsibility and criticism that might
come from their actions however inst
and right such actions might be. and
that republican community which did
not ask democrats to share in its re-
sponsibilities and criticism would make
a similar mistake.
Secretary Baker had a long con-
ference with the President yesterday
| on the draft plans. soon to be an
nounced, he said. He expected the
| plans would be made public by Gen.
Crowder within few days. Vance Nc
Cormlck. chairman Of the democratic
! national committee. from whom the
president frequently asks political ad-
vice. entered the White House grounds
| TO see the President at the same time,
but secretary Baker said that Mr.. Nc
tormick did not come with him and no
| Information as to Mr.. McCormick's con-
ference with the President was OBJ
| tainable.