Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1918 — NEW DRAFT LIKELY TO PASS NEXT WINTER [ARTICLE]

NEW DRAFT LIKELY TO PASS NEXT WINTER

Washington, D. C., June 14. — Prospective extension of the draft age to include practically all the able bodied men of the country and proposed changes ‘in the existing conscription regulations came to the fore yesterday. The important developments were: Representative Kahn, ranking republican member of the house committee on military affairs, stated that the war department intends to present to congress at the winter session, an amendment to the selective draft law making the draft age 18 to 49 years. Secretary of War Baker said the department does not contemplate this move now, but would not commit himself as to the future. Senator Smith, of Michigan, member of the committee on foreign relations, asserted that by virtue either of the effect of the pending draft treaty with Great Britian or an alleged secret agreement among the allies the American draft age is to be fixed soon at 18 to 49 years. Senator Hitchcock, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, disclosed the intention of the administration to procure the amendment of'the draft law so as to exempt from military service aliens have taken jjut first. American citizenship papers. Provost Marshal General Crowder reached a decision to recommend to the secretary of war the exemption of professional baseball players from the operation of the “work or fight” order during the remainder of the baseball season. Director General McAdoo requested the provost marshal general to exempt all railroad men of draft age, and the coal mine 7 operators of the country made a similar appeal applicable to miners. The professional baseball players of draft age will not be required to “work or fight” till next winter if Secretary Baker, and eventually President Wilson, approve General Crowder’s recommendation of temporary exemption. The managers have said that if the government will suspend the application of the order to baseball players until after the close of the present season they will ask nothing further and will prepare for the next season with the understanding that no men of draft age will be employed in the game.