<Exemption Board 4147>

June 16th, 1917.

Provost Marshal General,
Washington, D.C.

My dear Sir:-

I herewith submit new recommendations for the counties of New Hanover, Mecklenburg, Guilford and Forsyth in accordance with instructions in your telegram No. 631. I also make recommendations for certain changes in the boards as appear in list herewith enclosed. You will note that the county physician on the County board, Division No. 1 in New Hanover County resides in Wilmington. He is the Assistant County Physician, and was appointed because there is no doctor in New Hanover county living outside of the city of Wilmington.

With two or three exceptions for good cause the physicians named on county boards are county physicians, and on the city boards city physicians. The other members of the boards do not hold official positions of any kind. I have refrained from recommending clerks and sheriffs for the reasons fully explained in my several telegrams on that subject. I am profoundly convinced that the method I have pursued will make for an intelligent and impartial administration of the law.

As said in one of my telegrams, some of the clerks and sheriffs are bitterly opposed to the War, violently opposed to the Selective Draft Law, and it would be a horrible blunder to have these men serve on exemption boards. The law would not be administered, but would be mal-administered.

I trust that I may be pardoned for saying that from the beginning of our troubles with Germany I have supported the administration ardently, and have given to every measure advanced for the prosecution of the war unstinted sympathy and support. The men recommended by me are men who will do their duty without fear, without favor, and I trust that the list as submitted will be approved. When approved please advise me.

With much respect, I beg to remain,

Very truly yours,

Governor.

B-G