New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-03
Martinez Has so Far Thrice
Failed to Appear for
Examination
Burns Is Assailed
Consul May Be Prosecuted
for Criticisms, Says
Roger B. Wood

jesus Martinez, Mexican Vice-Con-
sui here, faces arrest for obstructng
the operation of the selective draft
act, draft officials in Manhattan an
nounced last night.
At the same time Roger b. Wood,
New York City representative Of the
sdjutant generals Office. intimated
that Juan 7. Burns, Mexican Consul
General here, may get himself into
difficulty because of the public state
ment he made Monday attacking draft
officials who refused to exempt Mar
tinez unless he appeared before them
and went through the formslities re
quired Of all aliens who desire relief
from military duty.
A letter WAS sent TO MARTINEZ last
night summoning him to appear before
Local Board No. 145. with headquar-
,ers in the College Of the City OF New
York. tomorrow morning. This lette-
called attention to the fact that Mar
tinez had ignored two other notices
sent him. and stated that, If he ap
reared before the board with proof OF
his alien citizenship, the matter Of his
exemption could be easily arranged.
Prosecution Threatened
"If. however" the letter continued
"vou do not appear. it will be manifest
to the board that your failure to re
spond to the notice will be wllful. IN
that event the matter will be referred
to the United States Attorney Tor
prosecution" .
Draft officials here are incensed AZ
Mr.. Burns's attitude toward the case
of Martinez. The Department of Jus
tice, il is said, is making an invest
cation OF the matter and Manhat-
tan draft official Yesterday sent let
ter TO Secretary of State Lansing call
ING attention 10 the fact that NJ
Bur1s's statements 10 the press, IN
which he declared that the men In
charge of the local draft boards SHOW
such stupidity that they can only be
compared to the savage hordes OF
Villa" were calculated 10 create pub
lie susnicion of the draft. MARTINEZ
has been attached to the consulate. AZ
100 Broadway, for several years.
"Mr. Burns Counting Arrest"
Cognizance was taken of the sum-
mons sent to Martinez by Mr.. Burns
in a letter demanding that the vice
consul be exempted without formali-
ties Later. when Mr.. futile wrote the
consul general that Martinez would be
granted exemption provided he ap.
reared before the local board and asked
for il. Us required by law, Mr.. Burns
replied in letter protesting against
what he termed an attempt 10 humili-
ate his assistant. lie Indignantly pro-
tested that the Mexican consulate be
shown the courtesy which, he wrote, a
peon in Mexico would show the dlplo-
matte representative of foreign gov
eminent.
"Mr. Burns" said Mr.. Wood, yester-
day, must remember thai he himself
is not immune from arrest, no matter
what capacity he is here in.
THE last letter in his correspondence
with Mr.. futile was very impairment,
and if by his utterances in the papers
Mr.. Burns seeks TO obstruct the opera
ton of the draft, he will get himself
into serious difficulties.
There IS not word Of truth in the
consul generals statements that his
protests against the enlistment OF
Mexicans in the National Army have
been ignored by the draft officials. We
are doing everything we can to help
foreigners whose alien citizenship en-
titles them 20 exemption
concerning the case OF Martinez, |
have instr lcted the local board TO pro-
coed AS is usual in such cases. Unless
he appears he will be dealt with ac-
cortinplv."