Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1917 — RUMORS OF DRAFT DENIED [ARTICLE]

RUMORS OF DRAFT DENIED

Reports That Drawing Had Been Made Alarms Many. Chicago. July 6.-*The rumor that the first citizen army of the republic was bping drafted swept Chicago and resulted in a stir of unwonted interest in the war.- The rumor had it that the names were being chosen, the official numbers picked. The first flurry of interest soon sharpened to a sort of mild though anxious panic of curiosity. Although the rumor was persistently denied by Official sources and although there was no foundation for it. no details could keep pace with its spread and Chicago waited on tiptoe during a supposed drawing of names. The rumor passed beyond Chicago and brought a fresh agitation to the various suburbs. Washington. July G.—Exemption boards which will administer the selection of the draft have begun giving serial numbers to the men who were registered on June 5. Instructions from Washington are to post the numbers publicly as soon as given. This is being done in some parts of the country and led tn false reports that drafted numbers had been announced. No drafting whatever has been done as yet and probably will not be for several days.