A. C. & J. P. ZOLLICOFFER
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
HENDERSON, N.C.

January 31st, 1918.

Honorable District Board,
Eastern District North Carolina,
Goldsboro, N.C.

Gentlemen:-

Referring to the appeals noted for the Government from the decisions of the Local Board of this county, sent you yesterday, there being few in number, as shown on the Questionnaires, we beg to say, that the appeals were formal, and only taken because of the instructions from the Government to do so. Upon investigation we know of no reason why the classifications should not stand as made.

There has been occasion for very few appeals in behalf of the Government from this county, the fact being that the Local Board of this county, in our opinion, while honestly intending and endeavoring to discharge its duty with fidelity to the Government, and high patriotic ideas, has failed to properly interpret and apply the rules and regulations governing the Selective Service System, as it was the manifest purpose of the Government they should be so applied, and as we understand are being applied in many other counties in this State, and elsewhere.

To illustrate this, the conditions in this county are, practically the same as they are in every other county in the State, and in the counties adjoining this, and yet, while the report given out yesterday by direction of the Governor, through Maj. Langston, shows that the percentage of registrants in the various counties of the State, being placed in Class 1., is about 27 1/2, up to last night the number of Questionnaires examined by the Local Board in this county, was 1695, and the number placed in Class 1., was 856. Among those so placed being many married men, and others with dependents. This being about 50% of the entire registrants.

In calling your attention to the above it is far from our purpose to reflect upon, or to criticise the Local Board, or any member thereof. They are our personal friends and neighbors, and we belive that they are conscientious in trying to discharge with fidelity a most exacting and painful duty, but we do feel that they have failed to recognize that in the classifying of the registrants, it does not mean that they are exempted, but that their call is simply deferred until there shall be greater military necessity therefor, and they they should not, if it can be avoided, as General Crowder says, “break up the closest and most sacred of the family relationships.”

There is not the slightest disposition on the part of the people of this county to shirk any call to duty; to furnish their full quota of men, or to fail of support to the fullest extent the Administration and Government in winning this war, but they do feel that the demand upon them should not be so much greater than upon their neighbors and others, and that their quota which they understand will be based upon the number put in Class 1., should not be larger than others in like positions, and conditions, and there is much dissatisfaction among the people here that such is likely to be the case unless the same shall be remedied.

With great respect, we are,

Very truly,

[unsigned]