<Lincoln Co Ex. Bd>

Lincolnton, N.C.
October 8th; 17.

Hon. T. W. Bickett,
Governor of N.C.
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Governor;

Please refer to the enclosed correspondence.

You will notice that we specifically called the attention of Mr. Gibson, to the ethical, if not legal reason why he should not divulge the information furnished his Board, by the Local Boards.

We also invite your attention to the answer to our letter, in which Mr. Watts assumed responsibility for the error, and states that no such incident shall again arise, unless he has specific instructions from District Board.

It has happened again, only on a more aggravated scale.

Mr. William Arthur Mullen, Serial No. 814 Order No. 215, was certified by us for service along with other married men, as per our original interpretation of the Regulations.

We furnished to the District Board our Reasons for such action, along with all Affidavits, etc, and the District Board approved our action, and notified him, and us, that he was held for service.

We had mailed him Form 164-B, notifying him to hold himself in readiness for call.

He made several trips to Statesville and got an interview with Mr. W. B. Gibson who not only, personally, showed him our Statement of Reasons, but also had Copies of it made and furnished to him, with which he came home and confronted our Board with them, and demanded that we amend our report.

This happened last week while the writer was in Washington.

We also enclose you ‘Copy’ of the statement made by the Board in the writers absence.

Mr. Gibson was also guilty of gross indescretion, maliciousness, or Political Chicanery, in that he stated to Mr. Mullen that the writer had been to Statesville looking after these matters, and by implication conveyed the impression that I was personally, and in violation of my Oath of Office, trying to influence the District Board to certify him for service.

He also stated that Mr. Mullen was being imposed upon by our Board, in having been certified for service, notwithstanding the fact that his Board had also passed upon the case upon Appeal, and had affirmed our decision.

Our Board is of the unanimous opinion that any person who is guilty of such actions, even if he were a capable and efficient member of the District Board, should be immediately discharged from that high Office.

We therefore unanimously make such a request.

Very respectfully yours,

Local board for the County of Lincoln, State of North Carolina, Lincolnton, N.C. [stamped]

Per. H. E. Reid
Chairman

Enclosures: 1917, Sept. 19. Watts to Local Bd. Lincoln Co.
1917, Sept. 18. Reid to Dist. Bd. Western N.C.
1917, Sept 29. Local Bd. Lincoln Co to Dist. Bd. West. NC