Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 161, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1918 — RICH MAN’S SON GOES TO COLORS [ARTICLE]

RICH MAN’S SON GOES TO COLORS

SON OF JOHN D. OLIVER, REPUBLICAN LEADER, LISTED WITH S. BEND ONTINGENT. Indianapolis, July 18.—Not many rich men’s sons seek to exert puH or political influence in order to remain far behind the lines while their neighbors* sons go out to fight the battles of the people in the great world war. As a rule these young men are ready and eager to do their parts. John D. Oliver, Jr., of South Bend, son of John D. Oliver, the multimillionaire plow manufacturer, has been doing war work at Washington, D. C.» pending his call to military service under the selective service law. He did not take up war work at Washington in order to get exemption, but rather to devote all his time to service while waiting for the call to the colon. He is one of 350 South Bend men called to the army by the military authorities, going forward July 23rd. John D. Oliver, Sr., is a prominent Republican. He is at the head of the war savings Stamp movement in Indiana and has made a record for patriotic service in this movement. His son’s induction into the National Army will be consistent with the Oliver family’* record. Young Mr. Oliver was married a year ago. This case serves to call attention anew to conspicuous examples at Washington in which young meh have been exempted from military service for one reason or another, cases which interest the people exceedingly. Notable in this fist are Edsall Ford, son of the famous Henry Ford, and Julian Ralston, son of ex-Governor Ralston, of Indiana. Public attention recently was called to the fact that EdsaFl Ford, son of Henjy Ford, the multi-mil-lionaire automobile man and close friend of President Wilson, was be-, ing exempted from military service on the claim that he was “indispensable” to Jus father’s manufacturing business. This absurd contention, of course, was easily exploded, and Mr. Ford, Sr., is liable to be fatally embarrassed by his eon’s exemption claim in his future political ventures in this or that party, even though such political enterprises may be sponsored 'by President Wilson. Another instance of exemption asked for the son of a prominent politician was that of Julian Ralston, a son of ex-Governor Samuel M. Rakton, Democrat, of Indiana. Young Ralston, five months after the United States entered the war, was placed in a government clerkship at Washington. The State Department afterwards suggested that young Ralston be exempted from military duty because of his “aptitude” for work which could be jurt as well done by hia elders or by a woman. The action of such young men as Joseph D. Oliver, Jr., of South Bend, Ind., suggests a way out for such politicians as Mr. Ford and Mr. Ralston and indicates a splendid course of conduct for their sons. The political “dugout” is no place for the physically fit man of draft age, according to the view of the average Voter. This truth is being driven home to ambitious fathers of exempted sons. V/hen men like Mr. Ford and Mr. Ralston ask for votes for United Stages senatorship in Michigan and Indiana it is natural for the fathers and mothers of soldiers and sailors to inquire closely why such young men as Edsall Ford and Jufian Ralston are exempted. Ex-Governor Ralston, of Indiana, is peculiarly unfortunate in the geeord made in the case of his athletic son, for it has been Mr. Ralston’s way to throw oratorical vitriol from the stump at all slackers or evaaionists in tins war-time period. Of course it is not easy for Mr. RaP ston consistently to upbraid others when the official record of his own son is considered.