Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-09
Governor Thanks LEGAL
Exemption Board For
Working Dunas War

The local eXemtion board has recel-
we'd from Governor W, l.. Harding a
note of thanks for the efficient manner
which II performed the work OF hand
ling registrants OF the county and the
! many duties growing out OF the draft
during the war. The governor, the let
ter says, has recommended TO the pro-
vost marshal general that congress he
| urged 10 express the thanks OF the
nation 10 draft boards for their ser
vices
In the two years OF, the war Iowa
sent 67,s14 men into the service out of
"A registration OF 523,St7 and al the
time the armistice was signed $4,000
more were prepared to repart for duty,
The governor points out that the cost
Of the draft per man in Iowa WAS s.,o5,
compared with the national average OF
$3.50.
The governors communication fol-
lows:
After nearly two years OF patriotic
and Industrious work the administra-
ton OF the selective service regulations
is drawing to a close. Boards have
shipped their records to Washington
and board members are awaiting their
official discharge from a duty which
has had much to do with winning the
war. Surely this initial work was the
basis for the successful army that was
developed.
1t has been my welcome duty to SUI
pervise this work in Iowa under the
direction Of the provost marshal gen.
eral at Washington, and cannot allow
those draft officials who have so earn
estly aided in the discharge OF this duty
to separate themselves entirely from
| the draft work. without saying word
of commentator for their services in
| the past and another word to express
| for the state Of Iowa. my appreciation.
Unfamiliar with military procedure
you were called upon to handle the pa
pers of 523.57S regtstrants and of this
number you sent to camp 67,944 men,
and had 1000 more ready to go when
the armistice was signed Nov H..
You have met every call made upon
you; you have digested q mass Of ever
changing regulations and orders and
placed the record Of Iowa for efficiency
so high that 1t has attracted the atten-
ton Of every state, in the union and
won the approval and congratulations
Of the war department.
| The general public has no idea OF
the mass Of work performed by draft
officials. They do not know Of the trials
and fluctuations caused by the neces-
sity Of understanding mass Of regu-
lations with which they had no know
ledge to begin with, and which must be
worked out by study at night. while
draft officials were busy by day con-
ferring with registrants and their
| friends and relatives. The public, how
ever, may have some idea Of the work
discharged, when they understand that
| the records of the boards. sent to Wash
| ington, would I'LL twenty-five box cars.
The second report Of the provost
| marshal general shows that while the
national average cost per man induct-
ed in the United States was $3.50, the
average cost In Iowa was $4.05 per
man, q remarkable showing for econ
| omy
| So impressed have l been with the
value Of the work discharged by draft
officials in Iowa. that / have recon-
mended to the provost marshal gen.
eral, that the congress be urged to off,
cially thank them in the name Of the
nation, in some suitable manner. w.
L. Harding. Governor of Iowa.