Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1917 — HITS MARRIED MEN [ARTICLE]

HITS MARRIED MEN

BOARDS ORDERED TO HALT EXEMPTIONS TO NEWLYWEDS. Men Who Fail to Report for Examination Will Be Taken into Army at Once, Says President in Order. Washington, Aug, 3.—. After conferring with Secretary of War Baker, Provost Marshal General Crowder sent the following telegram to every governor in the country: ■ • "The selective service law does not require discharges in all cases of technical legal dependency, but only permits discharges where, in view of dependency, a discharge Is advisable. "Local boards may well hold that a marriage hastily consummated recently,' and especially one contracted by a person after he has been called to present himself for examination to determine his .fitness for military service, does not create a status of dependency, in which It is advisable to discharge him. “It is expected local boards will exercise this full discretion in cases where they are convinced unscrupulous persons have thus violated the principle of the selective service law In the hope of escaping ti duty rightly theirs and thereby passing that duty on to some - one else.” This ruling, it was stated at the provost marsfial general's office, should settle the status of the marriage slackers. : ; President Wilson issued a supplemental order under the draft law which provides that persons who fail to report to local boards for examination shall.be regarded as physically fit and liable for military service. Such persons will be notified to report for military duty. If they fail they will be held liable to punishment as deserters. Penalty for desertion in war times may be death.