Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

the case, contained in phrase rs SIM
pie as Il object or in a recommended
ton that one or two months postpone
ment be granted
Then the applicant is invited to make
any statement he wishes. Usually he
amplifies his written remarks by a few
more or less pertinent observations.
The chairman and the other members
of the tribunal ask a number of ques-
tions, and if the military representative
thinks it necessary he puts a number
of questions. usually deprecatory of the
applicants attitude.
The members of the tribunal lean
over to one another and agree on de-
cision, which the chairman announces
in formula something like this: The
tribunal has carefully considered your
case and must refuse your application.
Should the crestfallen applicant pro-
test the chairman will offer a gen.
eral rule the following solatium: I'VE
sympathize with you, but the country
needs men,.
The applicant asks if he can appeal.
and he is told that he can. but that the
appeal form. to be obtained in the
building, must be filled up and sent to
the central tribunal within three days.
The chairman wishes the applicant
Good day. and the next case is call
ed. The army has another shy young
single man for the trenches.
This whole question OF the single
mans part in the war is the paramount
one of the day in England. and may
cause trouble yet if it is not grappled
with by the authorities in relentless
ia shion The trouble. if ii comes. viii
be made by the married men who at
tested, or put their names down as
willing to serve in the army, under the
distinct understanding that they would
not be called up until every single man
capable of bearing arms had been
pressed into service. The prime minis
ter gave definite pledge to this effect.
Under the compulsion act. certain &C.
cupations were starred that is. des-
ignAted as being necessary to carrying
on the national life. and hence not to
be drawn on for purposes of defense.
Coalmining is one of these trades, ship
building another. ironmaking a third.
and there are many more. The allega-
ton is that thousands of young single
men have entered these trades since
CONSUMPTION was brought in. with the
deliberate purpose of escaping service
in the army. Other "slackers' are said
to be making munitions in preference
to joining the army.
There are hundreds of young single
men, too. in government offices and
engaged in other employments which
can only by the most euphemistic use
of the term be described as war work"
Most of these young fellows wear
badges or buttons which bear the in
scription. ION War Service but it has
turned out. again and again. that this
means FASTING the labels on tins of
bully beef. turning out the short
canes or "swagger sticks which the
soldiers carry when off duty. or some
equally vital work for the forces. 1t
is declared, too that in the country dis
tricts the stalwart sons of wealthy
farmers are masquerading shepherds
and stockkeepers. two other starred
occupations. in preference TO joining
up"
The married men are growing more
and more FESTIVE over this state of
things. They demand that these
"slackers' should be hunted out and
made to join the army before they. who
must leave wives and children behind.
are called up" The newspapers are
filled with letters of bitter protest from
them One of them told the writer yes
terday that if they came for him before
these young single perishers' were
made to join, they would have to take
him by force And there are thousands
" no echo his words
Copyright, 1915, by Curtis Brown