Replying to yours of the 15th, I beg to advise that order for your removal was made upon the recommendation of a United States Government Inspector. This report very clearly indicates that you have not been in sympathy with the vigorous prosecution of the war, that you went so far as to say that the men who voted for Wilson should be sent to war, and those who did not not should not be sent to war. This is one specific charge that is made and in itself justifies the order for your removal. I have striven religiously to keep politics out of the administration of the Draft Law. I have sought diligently to appoint patriotic Republicans to various positions in the draft, and my only regret in this case is that you happen to be of a political faith different from my own. I would have ordered a Democrat removed who made such a remark as that much quicker than I would a Republican.

The Government Appeal Agent is supposed to put one hundred per cent of his mind and heart into his work, to be the champion of the Government in every measure related to the War, to be white hot with enthusiasm for the holy cause that we fight. If you have been a flaming sword in Ashe county, flashing out before the eyes of all men the everlasting justice and necessity for every man doing his level best for the winning of the war, if you have in public and in private denounced any and everything that savors of slackerism, as you were in duty bound to do, then you are the most sadly misunderstood man in Ashe county.

Permit me to say that your removal was not made at the request of the Local Board of your county, but, as said above, upon the report of a special inspector of the Government.