Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-05
Virginia Sends $50
Men to National An71u
as It's First Quota
Forty Soldiers From Rich
mond to Be Escorted to
Camp Lee by Mayor
and Gouernor.

.
which has been aggravated by the un-
warranted interference on the part of
those opposed to the selective draft
and by the desire Of some few, better
known as slackers. to evade their duty
to their country, the district and local
boards in the various cities and coun-
ties of Virginia have completed the
first part Of their work. and the exact
quota for the State. the districts and
the counties have been certified to by
both the local and district draft
boards. and this afternoon will see
the first per cent. consisting of $50
physically qualified men. entraining
from all parts of the State for Camp
Lee, at Petersburg. where they are
scheduled to arrive by sunset to-day
to report to their respective commands.
Now that the men have been selected,
1t seems that the problem before the
draft boards was an easy one. but when
one considers the large number of men
that had to be examined and re-
examined, the great number Of claims
for exemption that had to be passed
upon, many of which were without
1OuhodllOI oHc can readily sec Inal
these boards have been taxed to the
limit. and have rendered the govern
ment a patriotic service in that the
men on the boards served without re-
muneration and with considerable loss
to themselves.
WORK HAS GONE ON
WITHOUT SERIOUS HITCH
Reports from the various boards in
dicate that the work was carried on
without hitch. so far as the examin-
Ing and the passing on the claims for
exemption were concerned. but that
an unusual amount of trouble was ex-
perienced. due to the fact that many
men failed to report when called, and
many moro claimed exemptions than
had been anticipated. The boards
considered the cases carefully with
the result that some arrests have been
made for claiming exemptions on ac-
count of dependents when it has been
shown that the alleged dependents had
ample income. However, the boards
have no complaint to make. and feel
that they have done their duty and
treated every one simply upon the
merits OF the case.
Now that the men have been selected,
N'SI oFS iCSCiNGu tuc ueClSlOn OF tho
boards without complaint and are
ready to answer the call Of the coun-
try. Those who remember history
well know that virginians are no
towards. and no matter how much
they may have desired to escape SER
vice. when the real showdown comes.
the men are there and ready to fight
for their country. 1t now seems that
the people of this State, as have the
people of the other States. have come
to realize the seriousness of the
struggle and the reason for America S
entry into the war. Therefore, when
these stalwart youths OF Virginia go
forth to fight there will be no wailing
and moaning, for, however much they
are loved by their parents and friends.
1t is realized that they go forth to
fight for the supremacy of democracy
over autocracy.
SELECTED MEN ACCEPT
ASSIGNMENTS IN GOOD PART
The men themselves have already
accepted their assignments. and are
anxious to meet the forces of the
Kaiser. and reflect glory and honor on
america and the Mother OF States,
the grand Old Dominion
NSihS "Ho nave lOOkeu aSkdpCe at
the selective draft. feeling that it was
wrong to drag men into war against
their will. will soon realize II they
have not already realized, that II Is
not a draft. but merely a selective
concentration of the best forces of the
country in a systematic and sane
manner for the purposes of war.
Now that the troops are leaving.
soon to be followed by another con-
tingent, and then another until America
VIII have massed her full strength in
the war. 1t is incumbent upon those at
home. as Mr.. Hoover advises, to rush
TO their duty and help the men in the
held in every way possible. Food con-
servation. home economy and economic
coordination OF all the forces that
go TO make a country self-sustaininr
In war arc the vital problems before
all that remain at home, and these
problems must be taken hold of as
enectively and energeticalIy as the
young men have of the sword for the
defense OF American rights.