Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 143, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1917 — JULY 10 LIKELY DATE FOR DRAFT [ARTICLE]

JULY 10 LIKELY DATE FOR DRAFT

FOR FIRST DRAFT OF 1,000,000 MEN—PRESIDENT GIVES - OUT DRAFT RULES. President Wilson Monday promulgated a complete set of regulations designed to select the drafted armies of the United States with “the least inequality and personal hardship." Th rules are for the guidance of the exemption and appellate boards to handle the wqrk of the draft. The president’s action sets the machinery in motion. AJater proclamation will set the date for the draft and provide regulations for its operation. July 10 is the date most spoken of as the date for the draft.

The regulations promulgated by the president fill a booklet of more than fifty pages. In an accompanying statement the president characterizes them as “drawn with a view to the needs and circumstances of the whole country. He said: “I admonish every member of every local board and of every district board of review that their duty to their country requires an impartial ..and fearless performance of the delicate and difficult duties entrusted to them. They should remember as to each individual case presented to them, that they are called upon to adjudicate the most sacred rights of the individual and to preserve untarnished the honor of the nation.” The president’s proclamation* exempts the following classes of men: Officers pf the United States and of the seceral states and territories and the District of Columbia. Regularly ordained ministers of religion and students of divinity preparing for the ministry on May 18, 1917. Persons already in the armed force of the United States. Alien enemies and all other aliens who have not taken out their first papers. County and municipal officers. Customs house clerks. Persons employed in transmission of United States mails. Workmen in armories, gun factories, arsenals and navy yards of the United States. Steamship pilots. Mariners actually employed in the sea service of the United/ States or of any citizen or merchant within the United States. Members of well recognized religious sects, organized or existing May 18, 1917, whose creed forbids its members to participate in war. Moral 'deficients. (This class includes criminals.) The following classes, who are the sole support of dependent relatives. (a) Any married man whose wife or child is dependent upon him. (b) Any son of a widow dependent upon him. (c) Son of aged or infirm parent or parents dependent upon him. (d Father of a motherless c'.ild or children under sixteen years of age dependent upon him. (e) Brother of a child or children under sixteen years of age who has neither father or mother and is or are dependent upon him. Every citizen not a member of these definitely enumerated classes must, if drafted, appear before the exemption boards. If he has a claim for exemption he must present it, accompanied by affidavits supporting his statements. The board will then determine his status. The rules for the operation of the draft will provide, it is understood, for an immediate physical examination. If the conscript is found to be unfitted physically for armed service his case will be settled and in this way the exemption boards will be saved an immense amount of labor.