South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-16
Tribune Charges of District Exemption Board Favoritism
andPerury and Bribery by Rch Married Men is Proven
to False and Malicious Attack on News Times Manager


son. jr., the navy examining physician almost the
word
When came home, morning told DIT. Ber-
telling OF my rejection, showed him my rejection
card. and told him what the navy physician had
said I still have that card. IL has never left my
possession
Here are DIR. Berteling's exact words:
II knew you would pass but wanted
YOU TO go TO Detroit and have them turn you
down it will be easier for me to reject you
when YOU come up the draft"
Two or three days before L examined, Aug
-. by the local board, Div. No. p rumors came
TO that member OF the board had been
blowing. They from number Of sources.
was to be passed regardless of physical fitness.
seemed 30 have been passed before was examined
1 asked for two examinations and got them, but
the cards were stacked too well for fair play. DIR
BerteIing and Chairman Taggart sent me over to
Div. No. l. first, and then, coming back, one oi
the second division physicians examined me. One
OF them, / understand mentions my rapid heart
N his report passed me just the same i want
the public take notice that Dr. Berteling, author
of the above statement. neglected refused to
make any examination in my case; neither did he
give the information concerning the former dis
charge TO any of his associate physicians. done
know why. unless because he had heard Chairman
Taggart say as 1 am informed he did say: This is
j. VI. Stephenson. he'll co. Maybe DIR. Berteling
thought it would be no use; Taggart was boss.
have no prejudice against the division board No
o The manner i'm which they have handled eXemp-
ton OF dependents is perfectly right and proper il
they have the pursue it, and possibly If not
probably il is what the law and the rules have in
tended I am not TO blame because some other
board has disagreed with them L am not that other
board. and have no quarrel with them the fam
hnNfn m
such exemption, and having none guess my wife
and both hers and by family take care OF
themselves However. the department says IL
men physically fit; who can stand the 'gaff;
and If MY HEART Is SUCH AS THE NAVY PLY
SICIAN AT DETROIT DECLARED, AND As DIR.
BERTEIING LATER AFFIRMED, L Do NOT BE
LONG IN THAT CLASS.
am not afraid of bullets, but going 10
war; if my physical condition is unfit, just a
polite process of committing suicide Neither am
going to permit myself to be rarOaded into making
a lot OF arrangements have my business interests
cared for-and, yes, / have few, many, but
sOme,-preparatory being away one two, three
seven years, perhaps forever and then when
get down Camp Zachary Taylor, get the same
reception 1 did Detroit-alI because exemption
board No. 2, aiding and abetting the Tribune, on
aided and allotted by it, throw their
chests and tell how they packed me off, and prob
ably SANDER return when Il get back; moro
Tribune insinuaons about bribery, and "favOrit-
ISM
IL must have panied them, and the Tribune ter
ribIy, didn't file "A claim family cxemp-
ton. What an opportunity for big noise" that
furnished. Tribune especially, il
seems simply could not give il up. It wanted
something TO claw at in its typical sneaking snake
like, underhanded way, and being unable to find
anything tangible half Opine the wish became
the father of the thought and il took to manu-
featuring il.
And so, now that so much has been said about
my going to war, and much anxiety having been
shown, lest 1 escape, guess I'll see about il.
have been trying make myself believe i'm fact
that all this hubbub the part of the Tribune
Div. No. exemption board, and the gOssiping
public. meant that unless 1 should go TO war the
kaiser would certainly get all of us-but guess he
won't for while, least, get this thing
Strengthened out.
Out with st. NIiIler-NIr. Tribune where did
you get that stuff? BE open and above board FOR
in your life, with newspaper of yours. Ii
you don't like Editor Zuver and his criticism of the
naming OF the mobilization camp at Leeper park
give him fits,-and I'll join i'm the applause Pos
sibly he will. too. but anyhow he'll take like a
man, and If il should call for response he'll do il
in the open; like a sneak
We are not rthin- skinned" over here, nor do we
make any pretenses nfalIibility We're Just hui
mans We may make mistakes but we don't i'm.
tentionally deliberately and maIicousy lie; quite
contrast with this attempt on the part OF tho
Tribune To vent personal spleen upon me because
am The News-Times manager; get even after the
manner above Outlined-''yellOw''. cOwardIy.
Saturdays attempt retreat. recover itself as
undertaken by the Tribune under the head Board.
Critics Doing Injustice" does not improve the stu.
alton i'm the least. when once anaIyzed The Trib.
une itself either of its connection or a.
spokesman for someone else has been the onI,
critic that the appeal board has had.
Who do you mean ny the Boards Critics." Mr.
Tribune. Are talking yourself? The pubIi,
has n riohf tn