Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 45, Number 309, 9 November 1920 — Page 22

t

pAGfi MiWr '

Justice and Fairness for Every One Sought By Selective Service Boards In Recruiting Soldiers

Editor Notfi Thla artlel tvhh prepared by William TDutllcy Fonlke foe the Wayne county- history of the war. By WILLIAM DUDLEY FOULKE j During the summer of 1917, the governor of Indiana asked me to act as government agent to take appeals from our local conscription board to the district board at Fort Wayne in rases of exemptions and discharges. I accepted and served in this capacity for nine months and thus had ample opportunity to see the practical workings of the conscription law. Considering the Immense . number of men who had to be drafted by means of an organization thus suddenly created and composed ef men who had no knowledge of military affairs 1 must say the system finally developed by Provost Marshal General Crowder was quite admirable. There were many mistakes, especially in the beginning, but the work as a whole was done far better than we had a right to expect. The personnel of these boards was generally good. This was true of our local board and of our district board at Fort Wayne and I know that in Indianapolis where I,ucius B. Swift was chairman, a better man could not have been found in the entire state. Motives Were Good. In many places the members not being lawyers and being often influenced bv their own opinions of right and wrong, rather than by the rules prescribed, made some curious blunders. They were like juries whose verdicts ?! re often mistaken, but yet who are generally actuated by a desire to do justice and to serve their country. The Richmond local board invited me to be present and act as an adviser. 1 was there at most of the meetings, and logether we went over the conscription lists deciding who should go and who should stay. I had no vote in the ooara, dui i cuucunuu in nearly all of its conclusions. I was at first directed to take an appeal in every case so as to give the district board at Fort Wayne jurisdiction, but naturally the bulk of these appeals was merely formal. I selected a few of the cases where 1 doubted the conclusions of the local board and brought them to the attention of the board above. But nearly all these cases too were also aiiirmed. Between the local board and invsell there was the utmost harmony. Method of Procedure. In a city like Richmond, of only o-1, nr inituhitants. and in the rural j community roundabout, where everyone Knew his neighbor, there was loxs likelihood of fraudelant claims lor exemption than in a large city. Still in lists, which ran into the thousands, the board could not know everyone and a good many such cases might slip in. The lists were given to the aauy papers as they came up for consideration and I published a notice giving an abstract of the law and the decisions in respect to the kind of dependency which entitled a man to exemption and calling upon all citizens as a patriotic duty to give information of anvthing showing that an exemption made by the local board was improper, in order that the case might be called to the attention of the i'"ct board at Fort Wayne when the appeals were heard. Few Charges of Fraud. 1 received some leneir. to this publication but in proportion , the entire number, the cases alcnnis letters in auwe-i leged to be trauauient ...,m. i tt-1-. n t over were very the lists of Ee' who had been discharged with the chief ot ponce auu sentatives of l he force and with number of persons who had a wide acquaintance throughout the counties 2nd I examined the tax duplicate to see whether the persons "0 said to be dependent, had other adenylate means of support. V first the local board was inclined to be too strict in its construe, t;on of cases where there was a wile but no children for Deiore auwms an exemption. ecn wnere i"" was actually dependent we requirea IHOOI OI m netuv". i"-h"",-' - acts showing why the wite could not or should r.ot support herselt. Errors Corrected. But a subsequent order from the president indicated that this construcion of the law was a mistake and exemption should bo allowed in cacs ot actual dependency even i hough the wife were able to earn her own living. I accordingly prepared a li of all these cases, and submitted .- -i i hi. nrooiunev or ouiei it to exemptions were granted and the error corrected. , Richmond w?s originally a (juaKei community, and there were still many Friends living there and in the adminim; country. Naturally one would expect that there would he large numbers ol persons who would claim exemption on the around that they belonged to a society whose tenets forbado taking part in war. The number ot these cases, however, was extremely small, not more than' a score in all I should say. and when these men were assigned to non-combats nt duty there was little difficulty. Many Quakers Votimteered. Indeed nviny Friends volunteered for general military service, and there was an active propaganda in the society for doing reconstruction work in France. Many went abroad and took part in It and others contributed liberally. Despite the occasional hardships of conscientious objectors elsewhere I cannot but believe that the policy of the government was in the main wise and salutary The fact that criticisms came from both sides from those on the one hand who claiming that the rules were too trict and those on the other insist ing that they were not strict enough hi itself nrettv good evidence that .the government had adopted the gold en mean. There were very few cases in my experience where these eon crioTitimm nhieetions were used as a mere pretense lor avoiding the draft Some Exemption Cases. The fraudulent claims for exemption were upon other grounds. One man who wanted to get off because his wife was dependent, was sued by her for divorce on account oi mnuman treatment and other members of the family said he had never supported her at all. Another man got from a neighbor a child whom he adopied and then claimed exemption on this ground. But even such cases were in frequent, and I think usually unsuccessful.

The- general attitude of the registrants was creditable. There were not many who were eager to go. But most of them considered it this way: "When my turn comes and my country needs my services, I am ready and I'll do my duty." Perhaps that is a better augury for enduring courage than mere enthusiasm at the start. Certainly those men did honor to their country at the front. Later Improvements. At a later period another form of questionnaire was adopted by which the men were not actually discharged but were placed in different classes to be called in the order in which they could best afford to go without inflict

ing unnecessary hardship upon dependents or upon the industries of the country. This form of questionnaire was a great improvement upon the first and it allowed the boards to be more liberal in their exemptions without inflicting upon the country the danger of a shortage of men. These questions were admirably devised and they elicited the most necessary information in an automatic manner leaving less to the discretion of the boards. There were occasional cases of deferred classification which aroused the indignation of the community sometimes justly, sometimes without, proper cause. Most of these cases arose in regard to industrial classifications which were made in the first place by the district board at Fort Wayne and not by the local board. There were no appeals in these cases so they were beyond my jurisdiction. Letters of 'Protest. T received, however, some very nointed letters in regard to some ot t these cases The following is a sam pie: 'Vm. Pmlley Foulke. "Dear Sir: and are both Masons. They have both married since the registration day. Neither have children. Both have wealthy fathers or fathers-in-law. Both have only minor positions. Both passed the physical examination and their exemptions the local board rightly denied. You have reversed them. I refrain from marrying my sweetheart as I didn't desire to be eailed a slacker. I am a foundry worker and niv work Is far more important than that of the other two. In Clod's name. Mr. Foulke, is my life not as valuable to me as theirs is to them? Is one's wealth and soi ial position the only basis upon which the district board at Fort Wayne bases Its rulings. "In God's name is there no way upon which this most unfair ruling of the district board as to the above names. can be annulled and thereby remove the discrimination which the district board has seen fit to placo on us we who must suffer? "I'. S.: 1 don't want any favor shown to rne. Justice is all I ask." I published this letter together with the following answer: "The statement that I had anything to do with the decision at Fort Wayne in these two cases is entirely unfounded. 1 was appointed for just one thing, 'to take appeals on behalf of the federal government to the district board from the exemptions -or discharges by the local board,' These are the exact words of my letter of appointment of August 7. "1 had no right to consider or act either one way or the ottier on any original, cases presented to the Fort Wayne board asking for discharge on industrial grounds and I did not take part in any such cases. Indeed, when one of the cases you speak of came up for consideration 1 was asked to leave the room. 1 had no more to do with either of these two exemptions than you had yourself. I do not know what the facts arc nor what the affidavits showed. It was not my place to know and I did not inquire. But there were affidavits and in one case there was oral testimony which was taken while I was absent. "If those affidavits are untrue you have the right to see them and to prove that they are untrue. The secretary of tl; Fort Wayne board told me today that the affidavits and testimony were open to inspection of anyone who could show that he had a legitimate interest in the matter and also that they might be published. Now if you think there is anything wrong in these cases you can go up and examine thein or get someone there to do it for you. If you know, as your letter says. that uiese men nave only minor positions, you can make your own affidavit stating all the facts and showing just why they are not necessary for the running of the business. "The district, board can still change Its decision If you can show that It was wrong " 'Is one's wealth and social position,' you ask, 'the only basis upon which the district board at Fort Wayne bases its ruling?" What possible proof can you give for the statement that the Fort Wayne board so bases its rulings? Why should men at Fort Wayne violate their duty on account of the social position of two citizens of Richmond? "If these men are necessary to the industry in question they ought to be exempted no matter how rich they are, and if they are not necessary they ought to be exempted dp matter how poor they are. From wli.it I have seen I am satisfied that the members both of the Fort Wayne board and the Kichmond board are trying to do their duty and are not influenced by any considerations, either social or financial, except the desire to serve their country in this hour of emergency "Now all these criticisms upon the motives of these boards can have only one effect, to stir up dissatisfaction and to weaken the military efforts of Good,

O A

Richmond Coal Co. Telephone 3165

RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND

our country agrainst the common enemy. In time of peace uch complaints may be well enough, but In time of war we must all stand together against a common foe. The men on these boards have been suddenly called from different vocations of civil life to perform duties with which they are totally un familiar. "Many hundred of cases are before them which have to be decided in a few short days. Of course, they are making mistakes, probably many mistakes; it Is Inevitable. Let these mistakes be shown where possible by proper affidavits and testimony, but the characters of those who are thus serving their country ought to be secure against aspersions. "I am not referring to you or your letter when I say that a great deal of unwarranted gossip Is heard on every ride about this cave and that case by those who do not know what the testimony was or what the facts are. This ought to stop and our people ou&ht all to pull together for the common cause." Late Marriage Ruling. The matter which gave, us the most trouble during the last days of the conscription was this question of late marriages. The government appeal agent was directed by the provost marshal to appeal all cases where the marriages occurred after May 18, 1917, and were therefore open to the suspicion of having been made for the purpose of avoiding the draft. The instructions of the provost marshal general were to the effect that the purpose of the selective service law was not to suspend the instiitution of marriage among registrants, but that boards should scrutinize marriages made since May, 1917, and especially those hastily effected to determine whether the marriage relation was entered into with the prim ary view of evading military service anu uniess sucn was iounu not to De i ne case uuaius were auinunzeu iu disregard the relationship so established, etc. Based on Merits. Under this rule our local board determined to classify each case on its own merits. Where there were no affidavits or testimony to show that the marriage was not made to evade military service the registrant was put in class one to go to the front but where there were such affidavits or testimony he was classified according to the evidence. In most cases I examined the registrants personally before the board and as a result we gave deferred classification to a considerable number and refused it tc others. I was, however, directed to take an appeal in every case and did so. In the examination of these regis trants an amusing case developed. We were busy about some other work when Marjorie, the clerk of the local board, came in convulsed with laughter. She sat down in the rocking chair and could hardly speak for awhile to explain what it was all aboutv Finally she said one of these men had just been filing his love letters for the past two years as exhibits of his good faith. "I have just read them and they are too sweet for anything," and she rocked backwards and forwards in delight. This scence will remain in my memory after much relating to the conscription board has faded. Opposed by Public Opinion. There was a strong feeling in the community against allowing any of these late marriages. For instance I received from the wife of one of the drafted men the following letter: "Ftpar Sir: "As wife of one already In the servIce (I am glad to say this) I commend; von for vour anneal of those whose marriages took place after May 18, 1917. , "It comes to my knowledge that certain ones of those, successfully evaded the first draft by dilatory tactics. They now file affidavits to show their marriage was not in haste to evade military service but was after long time courtship, etc., etc. "This seems to me as camouflage of the yellowest color: Certainly you and the appeal board will not be deceived bv such tactics. As President Wilson says. ''e are on a War Footing." If so! flimsv excuses should not go. "We women and children will be protected and well cared for if our sons and husbands go to the front as one and do their duty Over There. "I have given up all that 1 have (ray husband) and he has given up me as a sacrifice and we love to do this if others show the same spirit. If they do so unwillingly they should be com pelled to. We cannot Relieve Viai a just and strong government will call one and leave the other at home simpiy on his or her statement that their mar riage was not to evade the national draft. The fart that they file such statements Is evidence that they are using every means to evade service and the conclusion should be that their marriage was effected for the same purpose. I "I trust that you and the appeal board wul protect us who are willing and see to it that those men who successfully evaded the first call (although Included in the first quota, but who are yet at home) will not foil the government this second time." Appeals to Washington. Her wish was gratified. The district board was also impressed with the idea that these marirages should be disregarded no matter what the evidence might be and these men accordingly were all held for service. There were a few cases of hardship on account of this, and I joined the local board in an appeal to Washington in some of these cases where there was a division among the members of the district board but (owing I suppose to the congestion of work at Washington) nothing came of it. The bulk of the work finished, Clean

SUN-TELEGRAM, RICHMOND,

though there were still a number of t threadi. to gather no when in the latter part of April. 1918, I asked to be relieved from further service on ac-l count of a recurrence of my heart trouble. Another gentleman was appointed in my place and I left to seek relief In the baths at Watklns Glen. COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE EXERCISED POWER DURING WAR War activities In Wayne county throughout the entire period of the world conflict centered about the Wayne county council of defense. With practically no authority behind it other than public sentiment the; county aetense council exercised virtually the authority of a military tribunal and was maintained by funds appropriated by the county council. Police powers to keep down sedition among the civilian population were vigorously exercised by the county defense council. It took the lead in creating and maintaining the morale of the citizens and inculcating a high spirit of patriotism. Directs War Activity. The council also gave its support to the various drives for the sale of Liberty-bonds and for the raising of numerous funds for the several welfare organizations. Furthermore, the defense council directed the conservation of food and fuel supplies and took action when nfnasinn damu mlorl tr discourage profiteering. The county delense council also played an important part in the settlement of a dis pute between workmen and some manufacturing concerns in Richmond. When the Wayne county council of defense was organized in 1917 soon after the declaration of war Walter G. Butler was appointed chairman.- The other members of the council were Miss M. E. B. Culbertson, secretary.! John M. Lontz, Denver Harlan. Lucius Harrison, all of Richmond, and Joseph Commons, Centerville, and Ancil Dwiggins. Mr. Butler shortly resigned to become government agent for Wayne county conscription board No. 1. lie ! was succeeded by Dr. E. R. Churchell, j of Richmond, who later resigned to ac- i cept a commission in the army medical j corps. Will W. Reller of , Richmond ! then became chairman and held the position until the close of the war. Mr. Harlan resigned from the council after several months service and was succeeded by L.. S. Bowman. On several occasions men were brought before the council charged with having made seditious utterances. As a rule a stern warning against further unpatriotic actions was sufficient to cause the accused to r

Jones' Smoke House

Cigars Pipes

Tobacco Candy

Complete Line of 704 Main St. to

o

IND., TUESDAY, NOV. 9, 19Z0.

A Arisfnrrnt Amnno A1t ATlSXOCTai tmOflg Military Decorations The U. S. Army Victory Button, de signed for use as lapel button, to be worn on civilian clothing by former service men. promise gooa Behavior and give a pledge of loyalty. The food and fuel directors of the county reported to the defense council. Miss Culbertson, secretary to the council, was also chairman of the committee in charge of woman's activities, which included food conservation, gardening and numerous other activities which proved of the greatest benefit to the community. Four Minute Speakers Explained War Conditions A group of Four Minute Men was organized here after the government decided to use this organization for the purpose of conveying official message from the executive department of the government at Washington to the people throughout the United States in four minute speeches delivered in theatres, lodges, granges, schools, churches and similar places. Regular Speakers. Dr. J. J. Rae, of the First Presbyterian church was president of the organization here and J. H. Bentley, secretary. Persons who spoke regularly as Four Minute were Dr. J. .1. Rae, Dr. h. F. Ross, Dr. Charles Bond, J. T. Gil1-", Rpv- J- S. Hill, William Dudley Foulke, F. F. Riggs, Rev. R. L. Semans, J. H. Bentley, R. B. Jones and Rev. E. E. Davis. Others who spoke from time to time were Rev. F. A. Dressel, Ous Hoelscher, Ray K. Shiveley, Karl Ullman, T. C. Schwan, Lester Carlander, and Rev. George Burbank. Many others assisted. The Four Minute Men met every Monday for luncheon at the Y. M. C. A. where the week's assignments were made and the topics discussed. The speakers appeared before the patrons of the Richmond theatres every evening. Cigarettes Soft Drmks Smokers' Articles Phone 2747 J

ur Heroes

the

who so gallantly followed the traditions of our ancestors; and in whose honor we dedicate

A

e rmis ovein

1. I

F.' & N. LA WN M OWE R CO. Richmond, Ind.

9,718 REGISTERED BY COUNTY BOARDS FOR WAR SERVICE

There were a total of 9.718 selective service registrations in Wayne, county during the World war. of which number 1,076 were accepted for service at the various military camps. The selective service men were not by any means all that Wayne county furnished for the army, navy and marine corps. There is no complete list of all the men In the county who voluntarily enlisted In the armed forces of the nation, but it has been estimated that more than 1,000 volunteered. There were two registration boards in Wayne county, one located in Richmond, the other at Cambridge City. The original personnel of the Richmond board, designated Board No- 1, was Michael Kelly, county clerk. Clement V. Carr. sheriff, and Dr. V. W. Krueger, county health commissioner. Dr. Krueger was succeeded by Dr. Mora Bulla, who .resigned to accept a commission in the army medical corps. He was succeeded by his father, Dr. J. M. Bulla, who remained a board member until the close of the war. Cambridge City Board Board No. 2, at Cambridge City, was composed of ths following: Frank Mosbaugh, Lee Ault, and Dr. W. C. Squires. After Dr. Squires resigned to accept a commission in the army medical corps, Dr. C. E. McKee was appointed to succeed him. That was the only change in the personnel of Board No. 2. The records for the first registration by the two boards. June 5, 1917, show a total registration of 3,885; 2,714 by the Richmond board and 1,171 by the Cambridge City board. The men registered at that time were from 21 to CI years of ago., In June and August, 1918, there was another registration, of youths between the ages of IS-and 21 years. The two boards at that time registered 318; Board No. 1, 207, and Board No. 2, 111. Last Registration. The third and final registration, Sept. 12. 1918, of men between the ages of 31 and 45 years, gave a total of 5,515 for the two boards Board No. 1, 3,861, and Board No. 2, 1,854. Of the men registered by Board No. 1 for the three registration periods, 799 out of a total of 6,782 were accepted at the camps for service, and

Indiana Tool Co. Manufacturers of Tools, Dies, Jigs, Gauges, Cutters, Forming Tools Special Machinery Richmond, Indiana

Boys

Day

tice

ber

H A 1

I I ill

277 out of 2,936 registered by . Board No. 2 were accepted. There were 885 Wayne county - selective service men assigned to general service. Sixteen men who had minor disabilities were accepted as "remediables." There were 94 mer, " accepted for limited service. Therij were 151 men who were physically disqualified. Deferred Classifications. The two county boards gave deferred classifications to 2,088 men during the three registration periods. 1.598 by Board No. 1 and 490 by Board No. 2. For dependency Board No. 1 gave deferred classifications to 1,478 men and Board No. 2 to 418 men. To agriculturists Board No. 2 gave deferred classifications to 29 and Board No. 2 deferred 65 for the same reason. For industrial reasons 91 by Board No 1 and 7 by Board No. 2. were given deferred classifications. Sheriff Carr has 51 men listed as registration evaders. "It is fair to explain, however." Mr. Carr said, "that practically all of these men were

not permanent residents of the county, being employed, for the most part, by a railroad construction company in Richmond." Few Tried to Evade. Considering the large number of men who were called up for registration for selective service, there were comparatively few who resorted to subterfuges to evade service. "As a whole the spirit shown by the men of Wayne county who were eligible for military service was splendid." said Dr. J. M. Bulla. " 'If my services are needed, I am ready to go,' was the attitude of the big majority of the men, and I am sure there were no better soldiers in our army than a large number of the Wayne county selective service men." Members of the two registration boards of Wayne county are rightfully proud of the recognition that has been given their splendid, devoted services. At best their work was disagreeable, but it was rendered willingly and competently. SERVED IN Y SERVICE. ' P The following men from Wayne.

county worked with the Y. M. C. A. at home and abroad: E. G. Crawford, secretary at general headquarters In Paris; H. S. Wood, secretary overseas: J- T. Giles, in educational de partment of Y overseas; E. M. Liearn-; rr, V. D. Bramer, and Malcomb Campbell, in the camps at home. Industrial manufacturing plants in; Indiana now employ more than 100,000! women.