The Washington herald., 1918-07-06
CROWDER ASKS
PROMOTION BE
WITHHELD

Maj.-Gen. Enoch H. Crowder, :ha
man who is responsible for the Selec-
tive Draft which has drawn the fight
ing nren Of the nation from all ranks.
yesterday asked Congress not to ele-
vate him to a lieutenant generalcy.
In a letter sent to the chairmen OF
the Congressional Military Commit
tees, General Crowder modestly says
that there are so many thousands Of
civilians and officers who have per-
formed their part in carrying out the
draft that he does not wish to lie
publicly recognized for his own work
unless they are too.
Crowder's Letter.
The Provost Marshal Generals let
ter, which Is addressed 10 Senator
Chamberlain. follows in part:
In view of that provision Of the
army appropriation bill. personal to
myself. now pending before the con-
ferepces committee, 1t is unavoidable
that I should take this opportunity
to lay before you and also Mr.. Dent,
chairman OF the House conferees. my
personal sentiments and to ask YOU
to communicate them, IL you see ut,
to your associates.
That the provision in question in
wolves a compliment and a distinction
which I value beyond anything in my
military career is natural: and that
the approval testified to by the vote
of the Senate gratifies me beyond the
power of words TO express. is a simple
statement of facts.
"But Nafter considerable reflection.
and viewing the matter in a broad
way, I am reluctant to allow the con-
sideration of the proposed proviso to
proceed any further.
'Forty-eight States and three Ter
ritorial headquarters and nearly six
thousand local and district boards,
with an aggregate membership of
nearly eighteen thousand citizens, as
sisted by the legal and medical ad-
visory boards in every jurisdiction.
have co-operated with the national
headquarters efficiently and honor
ably, and many without compensa-
ton. In the superb teamwork which
has produced the gratifying results
obtained under the selective service
law.
/. 'T have long entertained the view
that something ought to be done 10
recognize publicly and emphatically
the enormous sacrifices these citizens
have made in bestowing the continu-
ou2 and exhausting service that has
been indispensable in carrying the ad-
ministrative burden of the selective
service system.
! "At the risk of being regarded as
ungrateful to the proposers of this
provision, cannot bring myself to
be satisfied that my own conscien-
tiously-performed share in discharg.
ing that duty should become the SUBJ
ject of recognition. so long as the far
greater share of these other builders
Of the national army remains without
public and distinguished acknowl-
edgement In the records of Congress.
I'm placing before you at this time
these sincere convictions, I trust
that I have adequately expressed a
motive that prompted this letter."
The Crowder promotion was in
cfuded in the $4,000, 100000 army
bill. upon which the conferee;
agreed yesterday. Several changes
were made in the bill.
The Senate wished to appoint FOL
the regular army, one assistant sur.
geon-general with the rank Of ma.
jor-general, and three assistant sur
geons-general with the rank of brig
adler. The conferees agreed upor
four assistant surgeon-generals. twt
ooNrrsUmc on PAGE THREz