The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-20
FIRST NUMBER
IS WITHDRAWN
BY SECRETARY
OF WAR BAKER
Officials, Blindfolded, Start
Drawing of Capsules From
Large Bowl-All Names
Will Be Picked.
TO FINISH TONIGHT

WASHINGTON, July 20-The great
lottery to fix the order Of liability for
military service Of each of the ten
million men of the United States reg
istered for the war began at 9:49
o'clock this morning.
BY some time tonight every man
will know whether he is among the
first 100000 to be called before To-
cal exemption boards.
From the 1878, 900, the boards are
to select $4,000 for Americas first
draft army of 100000 and to fill up
vacancies in the national guard and
the regular army.
Officials start Drawing
In the committee room OF the SEN
ate Office building, with representa-.
tives of the press present, war de-
partment officials and members Of the
senate and house military committees
began the drawing of 10000 slips,
bearing numbers corresponding with
the serial numbers of each registrant
in the largest district in the country.
Secretary Baker was the first man
to withdraw a capsule enclosed slip
from great glass Bowl RI g = s''.'-s = =
Blindfolded, he drew number 25S.
In every district in which as many as
25s are registered, number 25S heads
the list of those to be called.
Baker Explains Lot.
eve have met this morning." an
nounced secretary Baker in opening
the proceeding, "to conduct the lot or
draft by which the national army and
such additions as may be necessary
to bring the regular army up to war
strength, are to be selected.
This is an occasion Of very great
dignity and some solemnity.
at represents the first application
OF a principle believed by us to be
thoroughly democratic. equal and fair
in selecting soldiers to defend the ma
tional honor abroad and at home"
To Preserve Looks.
II take this occasion to say that
every step has been most honestly
studied with view not only to pre-
serving throughout the utmost fair
ness in the selection but also to pre-
serve all those appearances of fairness
which are necessary to satisfy the coun-
try that this great selection has been
made in accordance with every prin-
cipal Of justice.
There are assembled here this
morning in addition to officers of the
army who are going to conduct for
the most part the mechanical part of
the work, the chief of staff, the adult
ant general, and other men high in the
military establishment, and the draw
ing is to be held under the observa-
ton Of the senate and house military
committees so that both the executive
In Of "a
crnment are here to see that fairness
IS given to every person"
Senator is Nervous
Chairman Chamberlain. of the SEN
ate committee, drew the second num-
ber. The senator blindfolded, and
plainly nervous, was unable to locate
the wide mouthed glass bowl unaided
and after he had groped for few sec
onds an attendant guided his hand
to the capsules. He drew a capsule
and then silently stepped aside.
THE second number is 2.522." shout
ed the announcer
The handkerchief then was placed
over the eyes of Chairman pent. of
the house military committee. and he
withdrew the third number, 9,613.
Senator Warren and Representative
Kahn. ranking minority members Of
The senate and house military commit
tees, drew the next two numbers,
1882 and 10,21S. Major-General Tas-
ker H. Bliss, acting chief of the staff
Of the army. drew the sixth number.
Bliss is AppIauded
Just then a round Of hand-clapping,
the first applause to break the silence
[Continued on Page Five.l