Weekly journal-miner., 1918-05-08
HARRIS MAKES GOOD l. 0N THREAT ID REMOVE
 LOCAL DRAFT BOARD
Heap And Fli7171 Told That Their Services Are No
 Longer Needed

] higher percentage of Class IA men than any other board in the [ State, why, he was at liberty to do his durndest.
 lAt the close of the interview Har-
 ris left for Phoenix, telling Journal Miner reporter in the nscantime that
 he would certainly tramp on the tail
 of the local board and cause its re- moval within the next few weeks.
 Instead of trying to remove the local
 men by his own actions, the colonel apparently took the matter up with 4 Crowder, and from yesterdays devel- opments, it would seem that he was
 cminently successful in his efforts.
 The men who were removed ycstcr-
 day had up to the last minute doubted
 the ability of Harris to oust them.
 and consequently they were both
 rather surprised when they received
 their discharges yesterday morning. i. In commenting on the matter yes
 terday. Mayor Heap said:
 Neither Dr. Finn or myself will
 make any effort to retain the office, from which WIG have been busted. i Harris is winner and we quit. We 1 trust that Mir. McSwiggin and the other new member will soon be corn- potent to ably handle the rather irl- : tricate affairs of the position. and we
 will do everything possible to help
 them get the swing of things. We have all served free of charge since | the board was organized last June, ! and have devoted our every effort to build up the army of the United States, and we have sent every man possible to further this end. Of late. however, Harris has been attempting
 to interfere with our efforts to get the lads into the camps, and this caused the trouble. Harris wanted to keep his political favorites out oi inc service, and we wanted to get them in, regardless of the fact that 1, any of them had any so-callcd pull , down at the capital.
 Tt was d thankless job at best. and not only did we devote our time and attention to the duties of the
 board, but on many occasions we dug
 down into our own pockets to pro
 ducc money with which to pay oil
 the office force We were actually
 out money on the transaction, but
 we felt that it was our patriotic duty
 to help build up the army, and we
 lid not complain, although the brick,
 were coming our way, thick and fast.
 "When the notice of our discharge
 came. both of the clerks in the ottce
 announced their intention of walking
 cut with us, but we both, for the
 sake of the success of the draft move
 ment in this county, informed ther'
 that it would leave the incoming
 board members in pretty bad tix ii they quit, and both have agreed,
 natriotically. to remain in the ott1ces until the new board can pick up the threads of the business. There IS another contingent slated to leave Prescott next Friday. and we very much doubted the ability of the new hoard to get this shipment off suc- ccssfullv without the help of some of the old-timcrs. We ourselves will also do what we can to aid the work in the county. for we are Americans. Our opinion of this affair IS that 1t is politics pure and simple, and we believe that most of the levcl-hcaded citizens can see it in that light also. The move of Harris would indicate that he is diScounting the services of board members who have worked practically night and day since last Iunc to insure the success of the draft.
 Personally would rather be right than q member of the exemption hoard and despite the fact that Dr. Finn and myself have been kicked out without a hearing, word ot explanation or acknowledgement Of the services WIG have tried to render the government in its time of need and without compensation, 1 am will ing now or at any time to aid the government in any way 1t may necc or ask my services. to help win the war. My conception of my duty was to furnish men to the government for the war and not permit those who sought escape from military duty to get away. Personal and political pull" has been of no avail and we have adhered strictly to the regula- tions issued for our guidance. IL these regulations eau be set aside and nullihed at the instance of Col onel Harris or any other official, then the fabric of the whole draft organ izatiou is torn to pieces. Some men will be compelled to give their lives for the cause of country while oth- CTS with sufficient influence can evadc their duty and remain behind instead of being in the ranks of the army. where they belong. l am not ashamed of the record of the Iavapai board while I was a member of 1t. Dur ing that time we furnished moro Class Al men than any county in the State, responded to every call of the government on time and in all ways tried to do our bit toward win ming the war. The record speaks for itself. despite our summary dismiss al A I said before l would rather be right than a member of the