New-York tribune., 1918-01-04
Adj. Gen. Sheriff. and
Major McCook Deny In
ti1nations by L. c. Ryce
Explain Appointment
One Board Chairman Com.
planned About Already
Had Been Removed

The charge that politics was being
injected into the machinery Of tho
draft in New York City, as contained
in letter from L. c, Rycc, printed in
he Tribune yesterday. was sharply
Genera Sheriff. and Major Philip J.
McCook> the adjutant generals repre-
sentative in New York. Mr., Ryce init
mated that through politics Charles S.
Dewey, Republican district leader, had
been named q member Of Board 81,
Brooklyn, and that similar influence
had been brought to bear to prevent
the drafting cf son of Samuel Krule-
witch. district leader in Manhattan.
Inquiry shows thai this son subsc-
qnensly went to camp with the draft
From another board, concerning which
Mr. Ryce made complaint, the chair
man, young man OF draft age. has
been renewed
Relative to the appointment Of Mr.
Dewey in Brooklyn, Adjutant General
Sheriff. issued this statement in AL
bany:
There was vacancy on the board
to which Mr. Ryce referred, and the
othc- two members recommended tc
Major Hutchinson, who is d Federal
office appointed by Major General
CroWdcr and attached to my henduuar-
ters, the name Of Mr. Devoy for the
vacancy, Major Hutchinson investigated
tho nomination and approved Of it
He asked me II I had any objacti on
and / replied that l had not
Il have never seen Mr.. Dewey In nv
life and I do not know anything about
him except by hearsay, and therefore
] relied or the recommcnd dntion Of the
Federal officer. never heard OF the
case until Major Hutchinson recon-
man ded '.he name ] have never men
toned tho case to Governor Whitman,
TOT has he mentioned it to me- No
one can possibly be more interested
than am in keeping politics out Of
the draft and ] think ! have demon
sons since / took Office on Septem bel
81
Major MrCopk said:
Il have read with surprise and re
greet the letter OF Mr.. l. G. Ryce ap-
pcaring in The New York Tribune o.
this morning.
The Governor has never interferee
with the organization Of work of the
local boards.
Mr. Ryce refers to Boards ia anc
156- The members of these boards
were appointed on IeCOIu1ueIludIlO IlOil ~
or for me as director of the Mayors
COMMITTEES on National Defence One
Of the members Of Local Board 1ot
is OF draf. age, and, as in all sncf
cases reorganization al the instance OF
the Mayors committee is in progres:
and will be completed rs fast as the
interests of the service permit In the
case Of Board ia, the member re
ferred TO, who was Of draft age, wax
replaced Mt my instance"
Investigation Of the cause Of the con
fic1 a. Board ia, mentioned by Majo
McCook- revealed that Mr. Rycr haa
called attention s,DmG time ago 80 I'M
jact thai the chairman George Golden
berg, p physicians son- and himsel,
o. draf age, had been serving sine
las summer. although his own draf
card and spme others had been lost il
the machinery OF the Office
While the authorities have ruled tha
ii is proper for men of draft age T.
serv~ on exemption bnaras pendin,
theis call to the colors, Mr. Ryce AM
his supporters were inclined to thin
thaA les5 or 1nis1aid draft cards wer'
indicativn of gross car@le essnesH, to ha..
the least. and accordingly he recon
mended Godenberg's summary dismis
sal, with public announcement to tina
effect. This the adiutant general de
clined to dc, on the ground that suc}
action was not necessary In the cir
cumstancer, but on Saturday last Col
denberE WAS relieved OF duty His reg
( istratjon card is NOW on file