Letter to Ernest H. Gruening from General E. Crowder - July 17, 1918
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July 17, 1918. Personal Mr. Ernest H. Gruening, Managing Editor, New York Tribune, New York City, New York. My dear Mr. Gruening: Prior to receipt of your letter of July 6 I had noted the editorial expression of the New York Tribune respecting my proposed advancement to the grade of Lieutenant General, as well as the news announcement made in your paper-both of which gave renewed assurances of support for the administration of the Selective Service Law under my charge and of friendly estimate of the value of my participation therein. Your letter was not one for brief acknowledgement and was laid aside until such time as I could say to you what was in my heart to say. The reasons for withdrawing the provision of the Army Appropriation Bill personal to myself from further consideration were fairly and honestly stated in my letter to the conferees but, as you will have surmised, there was one aspect of the case which was not commented upon. The proposed legislation had, as I see it, a profound significance for the Army, a significance of large principle, which indeed overshadowed it individual tenor. Pershing
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E.H.G. [page 2] 7/17/[1918]. self on these two questions. Army Officers whose fate it is to work of this side, and who are without any capacity to transfer themselves, by their voluntary acts, to the other side, are entitled to know upon what principle professional distinction and reward will be bestowed; and whether a mere boundary line-for the purposes of this war the Atlantic Ocean-shall segregate a part of the Army in which professional rewards and distinctions may not be won by any kind of service. There is not doubt but that the War Department recognizes that boundary line. There is not doubt but that the traditions of our people call for the establishment of such a line. Staff service rendered outside of the theatre of war has no claim upon the imagination of the people. While there is no doubt that the Bill, personal to myself, would have passed Congress, it would have provoked some animosity and jealousy which are happily avoided by the course what I pursued. But the ulterior motive back of writing that letter was not to avoid animosity or jealousy, but to establish that close elbow touch between the National Headquarters of the draft and the Field Headquarters which would assure success in carrying the heavier burdens which I feel sure are in store for us all. The situation demanded man-power and man-power and then again man-power if we are to win the war upon our own terms. There are many evidences reaching me that my letter to the Conferees had had this very much to be desired effect. I cannot but regard your letter of July 6 as an unusual one and I shall have great pleasure in preserving it and passing it on to those who may have some interest in knowing what evidences there were that I had worked in this World Emergency to some useful purpose. Very truly yours, E. H. Crowder, Provost Marshal General. EHC-vbr
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[newspaper clipping]
Details
| Title | Letter to Ernest H. Gruening from General E. Crowder - July 17, 1918 |
| Creator | Crowder, Enoch H. |
| Source | Crowder, Enoch H. Letter to Ernest H. Gruening. 17 July 1918. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this letter, General Enoch H. Crowder responded to Mr. Ernest H. Gruening, Managing Editor of the New York Tribune, letter of July 6, 1918 in which he included newspaper Clippings from the New York Tribune dated July 6, 1918 and July 7, 1918. Both articles praised Crowder for his refusal to accept a promotion to Lieutenant General. 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. War Department; Promotions, Military |
| 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 | July 17, 1918 |
| Language | English |