STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
RALEIGH

17 December 1920.

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

My dear Governor:

The attached letter was forwarded to this office from your office.

Withreference to the letter, it is stated that it is a fact that Mahler's name appears on the back of the State medals purchased for distribution to the ex-service men of the World War. This, of course, should not have been done, but, as a matter of fact, it does not spoil the medal. The Mahler advertisement can be erased by any jeweler without affecting the medal.

The Commission appointed by you ordered the medals from The Robbins Company, Attleboro, Mass., and the delivery to the State was completed the latter part of January, 1920.The medals, according to our records, were paid for on or about February 12, 1920.

This information is taken from correspondence in the office as the transaction was completed before I took charge. It was necessary that we purchase boxes, which was done by General Royster, and paid for as per my conversation with you some time ago about the matter.

The last Sunday's News & Observer carried quite a stinging article with reference to this matter, which article was written by Captain A. L. Fletcher in his forward observation post.

Respectfully,

J. Van B. Metts
The Adjutant General.

JVBM/D
Incl.