The sun., 1917-07-29
nine MAY
ESCAPE DRAFT
East Siders Claim Dependent
Exemption, Are Aliens or
Physically Unfit.

A careful examination last night Of
the status of the first nine men in New
York city who are to be examined for
the draft showed that all nine either
claimed exemption on account of oe-
pendents, were aliens or would in all
probability be unable to pass the ply
sical examination.
or the nine four insisted they wanted
to serve their country II they we're free
from obligations at home: one unques-
tionably wishes TO offer himself, but
probably will fail in the examination
one is mute one is an alien who will
not have TO serve and would refuse II he
were asked to Join tho colors. and two
more who claim exemption on account
OF dependents are openly antagonistic
to the draft.
This extremely discouraging show
ing was found In district of very
low rents that runs from the East River
TO Second avenue and several blocks
north and south from East Eighty
sixth street A considerable portion of
the people living in the big tenements
are Of either foreign birth or extrac-
ton. The test. while certainly a fair one
of the registrants In that particular
district, cannot be considered as such
for the whole city. Most Of the people
are either downright poor or in very
modest circumstances and many besides
the married men will claim exemption
because Of alleged dependent parents.
No. IS Hungarian Cook.
The honor man." No. /. who holds
the master number, 25S, IL Mathew
Weiland. cook. who lives with his
uncle and aunt In back apartment in
tenement at 1880 First avenue. For
ten years weiland. who was born in
LI,,W. ~.
in New York. He has not taken out
even his first citizenship papers, and last
night declared he had no intention OF
doing II. I'm going back to Hungary"
ne said in fairly good English. II don't
have to fight with America. | have
relatives In Serbia-I mean with the
Hungarian army in Serbia. OF course
am-what you call it-yes, exempt"
No. 2 Is an outstanding young twenty
two-year-old citizen named Theodore
Phillip. who lives with his parents in
neat apartment at 330 East Eighty-third
street. Theodore-In keeping with his
name-wants to go, but it's a question of
eyes. One who cannot tell time feet
away without glasses will have a hard
time convincing army surgeons.
No. 3. Henry Schuchmann, who lives
with blacksmith AT 451 East Eighty
THIRD street, proved to be a mute. No
signs or written words could convince
him last night bu; that he was doomed.
No. Has Invalid Wife.
No 4, Francis G. Fiske Of 31s East
Eighty-third street. is a real patriot
who honestly wants to enlist, but an
absolutely dependent invalid wife will
probably make 1t impossible.
| No. 8. Thomas j. Reynolds of 1914
Second avenue, announced he was a
| oh MY xEyh In t,,fn
were it not for his wife and an ex-
pected baby.
No. 6, Morris Geisenheimer who lives
with his mother and three brothers and
a sister at 535 East Eighty-fourth street
| expects TO secure exemption on the
ground that, excepting younger
brother, he is the sole support OF the
! family.
! No. I. Vincent Schiffert of l6i5 Sec
ond avenue. will ask for exemption and
will present his wife and 7-year-old sons
as proof OF dependents.
No. 8. Martin Schlecht, a chauffeur
for the American Express Company,
| lives with his father I'm a little back
! apartment at 1910 First avenue. lie
! isn't very anxious to 20, and will ask
for exemption on the ground that mis-
father Is dependent upon him, Last
night the father, who is 60 years old. in
| sisted he could work only at odd jobs,
and that there would be no place 70
him to so except to one OF his daugh-
| ters IF Martin is sent to the war"
No. 3, John S. Burkhardt. a Iith-
ographer living at sol East Eighty
fourth street, was apparently frank in
his expression of PATRIOTISM.
But what am ! to do" he added.
! my wife Is absolutely dependent on me
and We have no money except my wages.
! There is nothing for me to do but claim
exemption"
So the record stands-one alien, one
with poor eyes, one mute. four married
men. two unmarried but claiming de-
| pendents. 1t WAS IL 80 O'Clock and not
a real. sure soldier in sight But to-day
may produce one from the gallant l42d.
The names Of elIgibles so far drawn
for examination In New York city viii
! be found on page ~