The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-28
ATTEMPT TO Use
DRAFT BOARD As
VEHICLE INTO
OFFICE HIT HARD
Adjutant General Fraser
Says Candidates Must
Keep Their Hands Off

Bismarck, N. D.. Oct. 2S-HaudS
! off the geleCtive draft system" was
the order Issued by Adjutant Gem
efal Angus Fraser to candidates for
sheriffs and county auditors In
North Dakota IN a letter written to
the local board of Grant county.
Adjutant General Fraser, in the
letter, deals particularly. with a
question that has arisen in Grant
county, where candidate for coun-
ty auditor, /. q. Murray, is reputed
to have made the statement, in his
campaign for election, that there
were more complaints about the To-
cal board in Grant county than any
other board in the state" and that,
il elected he, Mr.. Murray, would
see that the draft laws are fairly
administered" -
Discussing these points, Adjutant
General Fraser lays down the propo-
sitfon that whether he is elected
county auditor of Grant or not, he
will have no voice on the local draft
board; the fact that he has at
tempted to capitalize the draft, and
to destroy the confidence Of the peo~
pie in the local board, for the pur-
pose Of obtaining votes, proves to
me that he would be unfit to han
die the draft"
Adjutant General Fraser's letter,
made public today, addressed to the
Grant county local draft board, fol-
lows "
In reply to your statement Of the
14th inst, you are informed that the
adJutant general has never written
Mr.. Murray that there were more
complaints about the local draft
board Of Grant county. than any
other board in the state If Mr..
Murray made this statement to Mr..
Bell Of Carson. wish to brand it as
lie. B.. ~ =
THE statement purported to have
been published by Mr. Murray In
his announcement that I will see
that the draft laws are fairly admin
istered,' is something that he has no
right to use. and you may state for
me that whether he is elected county
auditor Of Grant or not. he will have
no voice on the local board; the fact
that he has attempted to capitalize
the draft, and to destroy the conf
dence of the people in the local
board, for the purpose Of obtaining
votes. proves to me That's he won Id
be unfit to handle the draft. Under
no circumstances will MIR. Murray
ever be member Of the local draft
board Of Grant county.
This office, ie not Interested In
local politics OF any county in the
state; is personally interested in no
candidate for any office in the state.
and is determined that politics be-
kept out OF the work Of the local
draft boards and that every regis
trant be given fair treatment in ac-
cordance with selective service reg
ulations. The war lis taking, our
boys from all parts OF the state, and
any candidate who attempts to de-
stroy the confidence of the people OF
this state in the fairness of the lo~
cal boards, is. IN my estimation,
unfit for any pubic office in the ma
ton. l make this unqualified state
ment. If any local boards are ex-
oeeding their authority or not per-
forming their duties properly, the
fact should be reported to the proper
authorities and an Investigation will
/ be made.
ITO every candidate in the state. ]
say, keep your hands off the seIec-
tive service system" So.