Raleigh, N.C. Mch. 4, 1918.

War Department-Official Business.
Charge to Federal Government.

Provost Marshal General,
Washington, D.C.

I am getting innumerable inquiries from registrants who are engaged in agricultural pursuits wanting to know whether or not it will be safe for them to plant a crop this year. In this state the crops are laid by by the middle of July, and it would be a tremendous blessing to the farmers of this state to know that farmers and farm laborers who are in class one would probably nor be sent to the training camps before the middle of July. If without making any official statement to this effect you would permit me in my own name and without quoting you in any way to give to the public my opinion that farmers and farm laborers would not be sent to training camps before the middle of July these men would go forward with their crops and would wonderfully help the food situation in this state. Please answer.

T. W. Bickett, Governor.