Letter from General Enoch H. Crowder to Augustus Nash - June 8, 1918
Transcript
June 8, 1918. Mr. Augustus Nash, 2200 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. My dear Mr. Nash: With reference to the papers left with me on June 4, and which I regret to say were temporarily misplaced in my office, I have to invite your attention as follows: I discussed with you and your committee the matter of assistance rendered, or to be rendered, Local Boards along the lines of auxiliary effort intended to improve the morale of drafted contingents, contribute to their better understanding of the war and the necessary character of the American soldier; and I said to you that, in the light of the results achieved locally by you and your committee, I would be glad to see the essentials of your plan availed of everywhere and would consider the propriety of addressing Local Boards on the subject, stating to them that when the local sentiment expressed itself along the lines of your memorandum in the helpful way it was believed by the Provost Marshal General
Transcript
[page 2] I am still impressed with the value of your idea, and ask you- am I at liberty to bulletinize it to Local Boards who are in a position to adopt it, but excluding from the scheme any idea that this is to constitute a board with relations to the Local Board similar to those held by medical and legal advisory boards, and making it perfectly plain that they are to function in the field of auxiliary effort and not as an official part of the Selective Service Machinery. I entertain no doubt that we shall have splendid results in many places, principally in urban centers where foreign populations are present. I entertain no doubt that, in certain localities, it would be impracticable to order such boards because of the lack of men qualified to enter upon the work. It seems to me to be a plan which we should adopt where it is found practicable but, because it cannot be uniformly adopted, ought not to be provided for in regulations of universal application. If I am at liberty to use your plan in the form in which I would hold it practicable, will you kindly inform me so that I may proceed at an early date to issue the necessary bulletins. It is just as well that no effort be made at great expedition for the reason that the boards are so fully occupied with the rectification of the classification and in filling the heavy draft ordered for the month of June. Very truly yours, E. H. Crowder, Provost Marshal General. EHC-vbr Mailed 5 [June] 1918 P.M.G.O.
Details
| Title | Letter from General Enoch H. Crowder to Augustus Nash - June 8, 1918 |
| Creator | Crowder, Enoch H. |
| Source | Crowder, Enoch H. Letter to Augustus Nash. 08 June 1918. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | Letter from Provost Marshal General Enoch H. Crowder to Mr. Augustus Nash of Cleveland in which Crowder discussed the creation of Local Boards to help with the morale of the draft and other Selective Service machinery. This document is part of a collection compiled by Enoch Herbert Crowder, the Edinburg, Grundy County, Missouri native who served as Judge Advocate General. Crowder devised the Selective Service Act in 1917 which drafted America's forces during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | Crowder, E. H. (Enoch Herbert), 1859-1932; Draft; Draft--Law and legislation; United States. War Department |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Selective Service Act of 1917; Selective Draft Act |
| Site Accession Number | C1046 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | June 8, 1918 |
| Language | English |