Letter to Enoch Crowder from Augustus Nash, John Cadwallar and others - June 4, 1918
Transcript
At Washington, D.C. June 4, 1918. Major General Enoch Crowder, Provost Marshall General, Washington, D.C. Dear Sir: Recognizing that the value of any plan effecting the Selective Service depends upon its universal adaptability the accompanying proposal is submitted in accordance with your request. In the examination of this plan, please consider that it is a statement growing out of an experience in dealing with Selective Service Men, 26,000 in Camp Sherman and 9,000 from Cleveland, just mobalized. This proposal does not attempt to detail all the possibilities of effort along this line. It scarsely more than suggests what has already been accomplished. Carrying out such a programme can hardly be done except by men who see in it personal opportunity to help win the War, and to whom it appeals as a work of Patriotic devotion. It was devised to meet a situation in one place, which demanded immediate results. Personal convenience, comfort and business were forgotten until the war, was done. With fifty willing men to draw upon only eight were found competent to meet all the demands.
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[page 2] The success in Cleveland was due to the method of operation. One man devoted his time to inspiring workers, making assignments and giving suggestions. In brief, to coordinating everything that was attempted. Thus, a group of eight men, through this kind of leadership, met with all the Class I men in the 20 Local Boards. Incidentally, the plan was tried out successfully in an adjacent county, to prove its adaptability to other than urban conditions. In our judgment this programme can best be carried out by a Commission to find, direct and inspire the right men in the various local communities. Such a Commission should be directly responsible to your Department. Trusting that this proposal may be found of value and standing ready to supply and assistance from our experience, we are, Very respectfully yours, Augustus Nash, N. H. [last name illegible] [signature illegible] John Cadwallader
Transcript
[June 4, 1918] [Enclosure] A proposal to Facilitate and assist The Work of the Selective Service Bonds. It is suggested that this may be done by the inclusion of a Board of Instruction, holding a relationship to the Selective Service, similar to that held by Medical Advisory and Legal Advisory Boards, except that only on such Board is needed for a City, Town or County. This Board of Instruction must be composed only of carefully selected men of character and local influence- men actuated solely by Patriotic motives, serving without compensation, and having an intelligent appreciation of the peculiar difficulties encountered by the Local Boards. They must understand the influence of the following factors: First: The cosmopolitan character of the men registered. Second: The grip of foreign origin and tradition. Third: The antagonism to the Selective Service Plan. Fourth: The ignorance of the causes of, and necessity for the War. Fifth: The War for Humanity requires another kind of Soldier than a war of hate. The logical opportunities for this Board to act are: during the medical examinations, at induction into the Service , and at other times when men are called for special purposes. The professional lecture and preaching methods are worse than useless. Man to man talk and direct contact with small groups are the only methods that have a chance to secceed. Realizing this, it has been found that the de-
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[End of Enclosure] -Page 2- sired effect on the men can be secured by a fair discussion of these three subjects: 1.
Details
| Title | Letter to Enoch Crowder from Augustus Nash, John Cadwallar and others - June 4, 1918 |
| Creator | Cadwallader, John; Augustus, Nash |
| Source | Cadwallader, John, Augustus Nash. Letter to Enoch Crowder. 04 June 1918. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | This letter and enclosure discussed the adaptation of a plan to enlist competent men. 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; World War, 1914-1918--Public opinion; 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 | June 4, 1918 |
| Language | English |