The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-07-05
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
ISSUE STATEMENT CIV
ING ALL DETAILS.
LOCALBOARDNAMED
Will Include DR.. w. c. Brewer,
Messrs. }. B. Williams and
j. r. Stephenson.

AsS6 w SWIM WV ''~fN'
step toward selecting a national wal
amy from the millions of men who
registered on June have been is
sued by President Wilson, and the
local exemption board has been
named. This board consists of
Sheriff John B. Williams, Circuit
Clerk J. T. Stephenson and DR.. w.
c. Brewer, who was formerly coun-
ty health officer DR.. Brewers
term of office expired July /, and
for while there was some doubt
as to his eligibility, but careful
reading of the draft regulations re-
veals the fact that all county health
officers actively engaged in the dis
charge of their duties when the
original order was issued are eligi-
BILE for service on exemption boards,
and DR.. Brewer will therefore serve
as a member of the local body. 1t
was also feared for a while that Mr..
Stephenson would not be able to
serve, as he has been i'll for long
time past. His condition has recent
ly improved, however, and it is now
practically certain thai he viii be
able to perform the dudes assigned
him by the government. The full
text of President Wilson'S order fol
lows:
"The regulations which | am to-
day causing to be promulgated, pur-
suant to the direction of the selec-
tive draft law for calling into the
service Of the United States quail
fled men from those who have regis
tered; those selected as the result
of this process to contribute, with
the regular army, the national guard
and the navy, the fighting forces of
the nation, all of which forces are
under the terms of the law placed
in a position of equal right, dignity
and responsibility with the members
of all other military forces,
"The regulations have been drawn
with view to the needs and circum-
stances of the whole country and
provide a system which, it is said
viii work with the least inequality
and personal hardship. Any system
of selecting men for military service,
whether voluntary or involuntary in
its operation, necessarily selects
some men to bear the burden of
danger and sacrifice for the whole
nation. The system here provided
places all men of military age upon
an even plane and then, by selection
which neither favors the one nor
penalties the other, calls out the req
uisite number for service.
"The successful operation of this
law and of these regulations de-
pends necessarily upon loyalty, pat
riotism and justice Of the members
of the boards to whom It's operation
is committed, and | admonish every
member of every local board and OF
every district board of review that
their duty to their country requires
an impartial and fearless perform
ance of the delicate and difficult du
ties entrusted to them. They shoul(
remember as to each individual cas-,
presented to them that they ar,
called upon to adjudieate the mos
sacred rights Of the individual ant
to preserve untarnished the honor
Of the nation,
"Our armies at the front will bt
strengthened and sustained If they
be composed of men free from any
sense Of injustice in their mode o.
selection, and they will be inspired
to loftier efforts in behalf of coun
try which the citizens called upol
to perform high public functions per
form them with justice, fearlessnes
and impartiality"
Upon organizing the local board
will take over from the registration
boards all registration cards, whicl
they viii number serially and list TO
posting to public view Then afte
having been edvised of the metho
by which the. order of liability fo
service shall be determined, and o