Letter from Newton D. Baker to Enoch H. Crowder - July 20, 1917
Transcript
War Department, Washington, July 20, 1917. Brig. Genl. Enoch H. Crowder, Provost Marshal General, Washington, D.C. My dear General Crowder: When this letter reaches you, the actual drawing of the numbers selecting the men for the first National Army of 500,000 men will have been completed, and the third stage in your great task brought to a successful conclusion. First, you drafted the law for this great undertaking; second, you perfected with extraordinary accuracy the registration; and third, you worked out, with infinite patience and zeal, the arrangements for the great choice which affects the careers and lives of so many of the young men of our country. It is not necessary for me to recount the embarrassments and difficulties which you have had to face; they would have discouraged, if not appalled, one having less devotion or less clear and serviceable knowledge. There remain, of course, the difficulties of applying the exemptions provided by the statute, and to this task I know you will give the same splendid service; but I cannot allow this epoch making achievement to pass even this stage of its accomplishment without tendering you my personal and official thanks and expressing my judgment that the country owes to you the success which has attended the steps so far taken. I beg you to convey to those who have been associated with you in the
Transcript
[Page 2] perfection and execution of these plans my grateful acknowledgement of their service, and this expression of my belief that when our country has vindicated the ideals in defense of which it is now at war, and an account comes to be made of those who have contributed to the organization and use of our national strength, it will be an honorable distinction to have been associated with you in the performance of this splendid piece of work. I shall give myself the pleasure of sending a copy of this letter to The Adjutant General, that is may be placed among the other evidence of your long and distinguished record as an officer of the Army. Cordially yours, (Signed) Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War
Details
| Title | Letter from Newton D. Baker to Enoch H. Crowder - July 20, 1917 |
| Creator | Baker, Newton D. |
| Source | Baker, Newton D. Letter to Enoch Crowder. 20 July 1917. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this letter, Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, wrote Enoch H. Crowder and praised him for his work. Baker informed Crowder that 500,000 men had been selected to serve in the National Army. 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; United States. Army--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.-- World War, 1914-1918; Baker, Newton, 1871-1937; Draft |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Selective Service Act of 1917 |
| 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 | July 20, 1917 |
| Language | English |