Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-15
MAYOR SNUBS DWYER
ON DRAFT ACCUSATION
Merely Says Dwyer's Book
Charging ..'Pulr' in Exemp-
tions "Beneath Notice
MAY TALK WHEN BETTER

8 ..Tbe statement isn't worthy OF a
reply"
This was the comment today OF
Mayor Smith regarding criticisms made
nv John P. Dwyer, secretary OF local
draft hoard No. 2, in history OF the
selective service law in Philadelpnla'
In this volume, which tells OF the Oh
stacles confronting the draft ooarus'
Mr.. Dwyer said the Mayor did not sug
rest him CDwyer) with view OF ald-
ing in the draft work.
sHis idea, as stated by himself
wrote Mr.. Dwyer, was that he mad
the power to designate men for the
service, and that those whom he deslg
mated dare not refuse. He gave as his
reason for my selection that he desired
TO soak me-"
Mayor Scorns to Reply
Mayor Smith, who is i'll at his home
In Glenside, made this reply to Mr..
Dwyer:
'I would not dignity such state
ment by comment. / may have some
thing to say when l am able TO get
aoout."
Mr.. Dwyer also asserts in his book
that wealthy men gave the draft BOARD
more trouble by trying TO save their
cbauffeurs and other servants exempted
than parents of drafted men.
4 The book also contains criticism OF
former Governor Brumbaugh, and
United States Attorney Francis Fisher
Kane for their alleged "lack of en-
tbusiasm.
Writes Of Incidents
In part Mr.. Dwycr writes concerning
the Mayor:
..He seems to have had the impres-
sion it was going to be disagreeable
lob. and desiring to use a power he
thought he had. to give me few un-
pleasant moments, he proceeded on that
line. As he is a man of few ideas, this
xpas likely to be the one that came
closer TO the mark than any that came
from within. There have been a num-
her of unpleasant moments during the
last two wears. 1t is some satisfaction
that all of them have not been mine.
OF the efforts of politicians and po-
licemen to influence members OF the 10
cal board. he says:
ssOne of the most active spirits IN
tbe effort with the other members of
our board was one of the protesting
reformers of our neighborhood, who,
unlike two policemen of the district VINO
sought to influence us in several cases
where that gang method OF puilins tne
string was unsuccessfuly employed
failed to realize he was dealing with
men who, having taken an oath to per
form a public service, regarded the OBJ
legation seriously
Fling at Kane
Taking a fling at United States AT
torney Kane, he writes:
"As result of the fight we made TO
deal Justly and protect the interests OF
the government as well as the rights
of every registrant in our district, Fed
eral Grand Jury, upon evidence sup :
piled by us, indicted the members OF
! District Board No. 2 indicted them
against the personal plea OF the United
J States attorney, who finally saved them
from trial by refusing to permit their
eases to 60 before jury. The dls-
trict board finally was dismissed from
Office by the President of the United
States"
s'During this period of trial we were
not only subjected to indignities by
registrants and their relatives, but were
constantly under investigation by agents
of the Department of Justice and the
American Protective League.
"We managed to relieve the strain
Mt times by almost convincing the agent
of the Department of Justice or the
amateur sleuth of the American Pro
tective League they had caught us in
\ the act Of pretending to be unwilling
10 exhibit the QUESTIONABLE of the regis :
trants they were sure had been kept out
of the army contrary to regulations.