Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-03
PRESIDENT ISSUES
PROCLAMATION ON
ARMY'S SELECTION
Those Who Pass on Select
Service EIigibIeS Are Told
to Take Care No Injustice
Is Done

d
to govern the next step toward select
ing a national war army from the mill
ions registered for service on June 5
were issued today al the direction Of
President Wilson They leave to be
prescribed later the manner of deter
mining the order of liability of the
men registered, but set forth in great
detail the method of arriving at ex-
emptions and the work generally of
the local district boards already named
to carry out the task.
Exemption regulations add little to
the terms of selective service the ques-
tion of whether a man between the ages
of p and 80 is entitled to exemption
because of dependents. the nature Of
his occupation or physical unfitness
being for the boards to decide after
proper investigation. 1t is made very
clear, however, that there are to be no
class exemptions and that each indi-
vidual case must be decided upon its
merits The local boards-one for
each county of less than $4,000 popua-
ton or city of $4,000 population-will
pass upon claims for exemptions ex-
cept those based upon industrial or
agricultural occupation, subject to APP
peal to the district board-ope for each
federal judicial districts-which will
also decide appeals from decisions of
the local boards.
In the near future a date will be set
by Brigadier General Crowder, provost
marshal general, for the meeting and or
ganization of the boards. At the same
time il is expected that the regulations
will be promulgated so that the process
may be put under way without delay
The present intention is to call the men
selected to the colors about September
/, or as soon thereafter as the canton
he pnnln1afad
In a statement accompanying the an
nouncement of the regulations, the pres
ident called upon the boards to do their
work fearlessly and impartlally and TO
remember thaf>"our armies at the front
will be strengthened and sustained II
they be composed of men free from any
sense Of injustice in their mode of selec-
ton" The statement follows:
The regulations which 1 am today
causing to be promulgated, pursuant to
the direction of the selective service law,
cover the remaining steps of the plan
for calling into the service of the Unit
ed States qualified men from those who
have registered; those selected as the re-
suit of this process to contribute, with
the regular army, the national guard and
the navy, the fighting forces of the ma
ton, all of which forces are under the
terms of the law placed in position of
]
with the members Of all other military
forces.
THE regulations have been drawn
with a view to the needs and circum
stances of the whole country and pro-
vide system which 1t is expected will
work with the least inequality and per-
sonal hardship. Any system of selecting
men for military service, whether vol
urtary or involuntary in its operation.
NECESSARILY selects some men to bear
the burden of danger and sacrifice for
the whole nation. The system here pro-
vided places all men of military age
upon an even plane and then, by selec-
ton which neither favors the one nor
penalties the other, calls out the requi-
site number for service.
THE successful operation of this law
and of these regulations depends neces-
sarily upon the loyalty, patriotism, 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
to review that their duty to their coun-
try requires an impartial and fearless
performance to the delicate. and diff
cult duties entrusted to them They
should remember as to each individual
case presented to them that they are
called upon to adjudiCate the most sa-
cred rlEnIS OF the lUulNluudA anu "
preserve untarnished the honor of the
nation.
"Our armies at the front will be
strengthened and sustained If they be
composed of men free from any sense
of Injustice in their mode of selection,
and they will be inspired to loftier
efforts in behalf of a country which
the citizens called upon to perform
high public functions perform them
rita l.
fly"
Upon organizing the local boards
will take over from the registration
boards all registration cards. which they
will number serially and list for posting
TO public view. Then, after having
been advised of the method by which
order of liability for service shall be
determined and of the quota to be
drawn from its territory (minus credits
for enlistments i'm the national guard
or regular army each board will pre-
pare a list of persons designated for
service IN the order of their liability.
post the list, give it to the press and
within three days send notice to each
person designated by mail.
QUESTION OF EXEMPTION.
AS the men so notified appear, the
boards first will make a physical exam
nation in accordance with special regu-
latiOnS to be provided, bearing IN nina
that all persons accepted by them will
the reexamned by army surgeons. If
the physical examination Is passed
successfully. then comes the question
of exemption.
Persons who must be exempted or
DISCHARGED by the local board include:
officers of the United States, Of the
states territories and the District of
Columbia, ministers Of religion, stu
dents of divinity. persons In the mill
tary or naval services OF the United
States. subjects Of Germany, all other
aliens who have not taken out first
papers. county or municipal officers,
custom house clerks, workmen in fed
eraI armories, arsenals and navy yards,
persons in the federal service desig-
mated by the president for exemption,
pilots. merchant marine sailors, those
(oontanuad ON Page 3, Col. el