November 14th, 1917.

Gen. E. H. Crowder,
Provost Marshal General,
Washington, D.C.

My dear General Crowder:-

Yours of the 6th was forwarded to me in South Carolina where I was visiting the North Carolina troops at Columbia and Greenville. I had planned to go from Greenville to Atlanta to attend the National Tax Association, but returned at once, upon receipt of your letter, to Raleigh and immediately commenced to organize the legal advisory boards mentioned in your letter. I think I will have these organizations complete by the end of this week.

I understand that it is not desired that I should do anything towards the organization of the medical advisory boards until Major J. W. Long of the Medical Reserve Corps reports to me.

I have tendered the position of assistant to the Governor in the administration of the Selective Draft Law to John D. Langston, Chairman of the Eastern District Board. Mr. Langston is the “man of such conspicuous initiative, patriotism, zeal and familiarity with the law” suggested in your letter. He is so preeminently the best qualified man for this position that I do not feel it necessary to mention any second, or third choice man unless you require me to do so. Mr. Langston is my first, second and third choice. I have notified Mr. Langston that I was going to recommend him for this position, and he has told me that he would take the matter under advisement, that he did not know yet whether he could arrange his law practice so as to be able to leave it for this work. He will give me a definite answer within the next few days, but in the meantime I think it proper to submit his name to you to the end that you may have the matter under consideration.

I note in your letter that the new regulations require that this officer shall act as disbursing officer. I earnestly hope that this does not mean that it will be necessary to dispense with the services of Mr. J. F. Mitchell who is now acting as disbursing officer. Mr. Mitchell is an ideal man for this job, and is rendering the Government faithful and efficient service. I hope that he can be retained as assistant to the disbursing officer for two reasons:- 1. I am satisfied that it will be impossible for the new man to attend to the details of the disbursing officer with the care they deserve, and at the same time do the big constructive work it is contemplated that he shall do under the new regulations. It would be a grave blunder to have the time and thought of this new officer taken up by the consideration of innumerable petty details. 2. If Mr. Langston shall be appointed he could not only do the particular work outlined in your letter, but his knowledge of the selective draft law is so intimate and he is so familiar with all of the procedure that he could go to any district or local board, and at once straighten out any difficulty that may arise. In this way he can easily save the Government many times the cost of retaining Mr. Mitchell as his assistant in the disbursing office to look after the details with which Mr. Mitchell is already entirely familiar.

With much respect, I am,

Very truly yours,

[unsigned]

B-G