Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-02

Investigation of alleged connection be
tween Fifth Ward politics and class-
f1cation Of draft registrants by Local
Board No. Z. was begun today by the
special Federal Grand Jury.
This. and an announcement by Lieu
tenant Colonel ]. S. Easby-S Smith, per
sonal envoy of General Crowder that
ne would urge removing several local
boards, notably No. 80, from the juris-
diction Of Appeal Board No. .. to end
friction, were the chief developments
today, in Philadelphia draft tangle.
Lieutenant Colonel Easby-Smith re-
turned to Washington this afternoon
He arrived here last night.
May Shift Four Roards
Four local boards in West Ph!ladel-
phia probably will be transferred from
the Jurisdiction of District Appeal Board
NO. 2. headed by Walter Willard, to that
OF district Appeal Board No. l, headed
by Samuel T. Bodne.
Some appeal boards now have more
than they can do, hence some have kept
up with their work and others have
faitAn behind. Between District Appeal
Board Mo- 2 and Local Board No 80, of
which John p Dwyer is secretary there
has beer some friction. No. 80 board
VIII probably be transferred to the juris-
dfction Of District Appeal Board No. l."
Colonel Easby-Smith said. He will SO
recommend to the Provost Marshal
IN Washington, Lieutenant Colonel
Easby-Smith will go over the COM
plants, call on the officers complained
against to give all information they can
ano, II necessary. come to Philadelphia
again and hold public hearings Lieu
tenant Hallowell will represent Colonel
Easby-Smith in this city.
Colonel Easoy-Smith sat in room $50,
CITY Hall. today. to receive information
on the draft situation. and any COM
plants that might be made
Colonel Easby-Smith. who arrived
in this city late yesterday. addressed
a meeting of draft board members in
city Hall last night, declaring he in
tended going to the bottom of the
charges OF corruption in the local draft
machinery. ''if it takes all summer"
Every Charge to BE Investigated
Every charge affecting the integrity
Of draft boards will be investigated,
records of the boards will be examined
and testimony taken, he declared, In
IN effort to establish the truth of many
cnArges which have reached General
Cfowder.
Already Colonel Easby-Smith has made
q Dertial Investigation into charges made
In statement by Gregor Drummond,
6oru1er chairman of Local Board No
3e--A statement which the EVENING
PuBLiC LEDGER declined to publish until
the facts had been substantiated.
The Investigation disclosed, Colonel
EAsby- Smith stated, that the draft beard
members had performed their duties
faithfully.
Jury Hears Fifth Ward Case
Nearly q dozen witnesses were on
hand In the Federal building when the
Grand Jury began hearing testimony in
the fifth War dcase.
One of the complaints against the
board was made by Martin Larhns, a
ragistrant who said that board member
promised to fix" his case, If he drop
ned Isadore Stern, as his counsel in a
divorce suit against his first wife. Stern
10 sIiied with the Carey faction in Fifth
ward politics.
Another complainant against Board
No Is Richard Perleman, who charges
he was shunted from Glass A 1 TO Glass
3. and back again to Class A l.. as the
political moods of the Fifth Ward die
tated-
etsrn formally withdrew before
Judge Dickinson a petition he filed on
behalf of Benjamin Schmerer. a draftee
and lawyer. for the court to compel
ADooal Board No. to hasten its de-
cfoionn IN pending cases SO that Schmerer
would be dropped out of the contingent
Of ten men from Local Board No. 80,
which is TO leave for camp about July Is.
Dchmerer's order number is 1855, and
hs was the last of ten men in the present
and In his petition 10 the
soart he complained that other draftees
w1th lower numbers were allowed to
ro1main at home because Appeal Board
~. was diiatory In filing its decisions
~ appeals. while he was being called
|one before the draft law intended.
", and on Friday District Board
nnounced that II had decided
al of w. b. Pfrommer. whose
! mber was 757, on Wednesday.
boards action In sustaining
ard No, 32 in placing Pfrommer
Al. Schmerer had attained all
4. In being dropped from the
as ten he gets the chance he de-
to enlist In the navy.