Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-06-05
WITHIN THE LAW
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Wxxk1x4\ xI1G Law
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tion was set up by these newspapers
that the Adjutant General had no aa-
thority from washington for appeal
ing the cases. This authority Is IN
the hands Of the AdjutAnt General
and has been throughout the con-
troversy.
The claim Is now set up that the
district boards in passing upon these
cases is exceeding the law. making
rules of their own and that the two
boards themselves do not agree.
None Of these three propositions is
founded on fact. The Boards are fol-
lowing the law to the letter, they are
not making rules Of their own and the
boards are absolutely agreed upon
the Interpretation Of the law.
The Adjutant Generals Ground
The Adjutant General of Maine,
Brigadier General George Mel Pres
son, Tuesday received letter from
the Provost Marshal General, Major
General E. H. Crowder, which Is
submitted herewith in full.
The enclosed telegram" referred to
contains substantially the same
statements as appeared in the Bangor
Commercial, May 2S. These state
ments were to the effect that the Ad-
jutant General and the Governor had
exceeded their authority in ordering
Class IVA cases appealed for the
purpose of securing uniformity
throughout the State and attempted
to defend the action Of Henry w.
Mayo Of Bangor in refusing to per-
form his duty as an apepal agent.
The telegram was addressed to
Secretary Lane of the Department Of
the Interior who is doubtless known
to Mr.. Bass personally.
The Adjutant General desires to
call attention to one or two state
ments in this letter, in view, as he
says, "of the campaign Of abuse and
Misrepresentation which has been in
augurated and carried on by w. r.
Pattangall Of Augusta who claims to
represent Mr.. Bass"
The FIRST is that part Of paragraph
one which says that the action Of
Governor Millilken in ordering Class
" dependency cases apepaled to the
district boards is in accord with an
order issued by this Office to the Ad-
jutant General"
The second is that part of para :
graph two which reads "Orders sim
liar to that issued through the Ad-
jutant General to you are going forth
to every State in the Union"
The Provost Marshal's Letter
The claim which has been advanced
by the persons who have taken part
in this effort to nullify the selective
service law that the Maine officia Is
were making classification rules of
their own is met by the following
sentence: eve are proposing no new
rules Of classification, but are search
ing out error i'll the application of the
existing rules"
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Office OF the Provost Marshal General
Washington
June l. 1918.
FROM: Office Of the Provost Mar
shall General.
TO: Adjutant General OF Maine.
Augusta. Maine.
SUBJECT; Appeal of Glass w
Dependency cases.
|. This office is in receipt of the
enclosed telegram addressed to
Secretary Lane from Mr.. J. p.
Bass Of Bangor. Maine. Please in
form Mr.. Bass that the action of
Governor Milliken in ordering
Glass ~ dependency cases ap-
pealcd to the District Boards is i'll
accord with an order issued by
this office to the Adjutaht Gener-
nj of your State. and In accord
ance with the third paragraph Of
Section 10i, Sclective Service
Regulations.
2. Military necessity, as evil
denced by the large calls which
l are now being made upon the
country for men should indicate
!, TO all who have joined in this pro-
test that Glass | should be re-
Crulted In strength in every legit-
innate way. Orders similar to that
issued through the Adjutant Cen
cral to you are going forth to ev-
cry state III the Union We are
proposing no new rules of classi-
fication. but are searching out err
ror in the application of the eX-
sting rules TO this end we have
directed certain classes of cases
to be re-examned and appealed.
g. | do not doubt that the ac-
ton Of the District Board on apS
peal will be wise one and correc-
tive Of irregularity and unu1i-
formity and that the registrants
will have the fullest measure of
protection extended to them.
Very truly yours.
f. H. CROWDER.
/ Provost Marshal General.
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