The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-28
MAY DRAFT The
Foreigners TOO
Unless Aliens Are Taken in Now,
Burden viii Be Unfair to
Native Born.
ALLIED RECRUITING failure.
Nations Aligned With us Probably
Glad to See Their Slackers Here
Forced Into Fight Against
Germany,s Armies.

Washington, July 26.-Congress is
going to order the drafting of all
aliens of military age, except subjects
of the central powers, unless the state
department, which has taken hand
in the question, can furnish very
convincing argument to the contrary.
Polls have disclosed an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in favor Of making for
eigners living in the United States
and escaping military service in their
native lands bear their share of the
draft burden here. Particularly is
this sentiment strong among repre-
sentatives and senators from the more
denseiy populated centers, where
alien exemption will cause the draft
burden to fall heavily ON the native
born American population.
Awaiting Law Report.
The Chamberlain resolution, declar-
ing all aliens, except those of the CEN
tral powers, subject to the draft on
the same terms as American citizens,
unless otherwise provided by treaty
with the nation of which they are
subjects, Is now before the senate mil
itary affairs committee. Action by
the, committee has been held up pend
ing the receipt of a report by the
state department on the resolution,
but unless the state department makes
q strong case against the measure,
the committee is determined to report
1t fayorably.
The state department has expressed
the fear to those behind the resolution
it,is understood, that I might produce
diplomatic complications. 1t Is gener-
ally believed In the senate however,
that the allied nations would be glad
to have the United States draft their
nationals who have been using this
country as refuge from military serv-
ice. .fsSisaM &
Not Much Luck.
All the allied governments have the
privilege, under recent act of con-
gress, to recruit their own nationals
in this country, but they have made so
little success of 1t that it is believed
they would be pleased to have the
United States press their "slackers"
into the American army.
The Chamberlain resolution would
add approximately million men to
the list eligible to the draft. 1t would
allow exemption to foreigners on claim
of the diplomatic representative of
their native land, but would compel
the deportation of such exempted per-
sons unless they left the country vol
unfairly within 80 days.
Situation In Chicago.
Chicago, July 26.-Exemption boards
today discovered that one-fourth of
the men registered and drafted in Chi
cago are exempt as alien citizens.
Out of total of 4,116 registered
men, 1858 are exempt as aliens.
Three chairmen of local exemption
boards said they feared the war de-
partment's ruling including registered
aliens in computing division quotas
gravely imperlled their ability to fill
their division quotas, even though ev-
cry registered man was called.
In district No. 40, 2,10S Of the 1928
registered men are aliens, making 1t
necessary to draw the quota Of 377
soldiers from S15 registered Ameri-
cans.
The exemption board says disquali-
fications because Of physical disability
and exemptions Of married men prob
ably will make 1t impossible for 1t to
furnish It's quota.