Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1917-07-06
EXEMPTION BOARDS
War Department Warns as to
Gravity Of Their Task.

Washington. d. c., July g.
Warning Of the gravity Of the task
the War department has called rnon
state governors for their nominations
10 the upper tribunals that will sim
gle out the men for Americas
armies.
On each board the farmer. the big
employer and the laboring man each
will have "a friend at court"
In letter to each governor. Sec
retary Baker drew attention to the
double responsibility that rests upon
the boards-to raise armies and at
the same time avoid injuring the
vital industrial needs of the nation.
He declared 1t was the most vital
problem of the war to strike a bal
ance between the military and indus
trial necessity"
AT the suggestion of the depart.
ment every board will be composed
of one member in close touch with
the agricultural situation of each
district; another member with wide
knowledge of the industrial situa-
tlon of the district affected, and one
In touch with the laboring man pre-
ferably a representative of organiz-
ed labor. In addition there will be
one physician and one lawyer.
Secretary Baker emphasized that
the needs of the nation demands on
ly men of the highest standing for
these difficult positions.
They must be men possessing the
mentality, experience and informa-
tion that will enable them to solve
the very difficult economic problems
to be encountered" he told the gov
ernors.
They must be men of such stabil-
ity, patriotism and integrity as will
insure the interest of the nation
against the urging of private
claims'
The most delicate task of the
whole draft upon the shoulders of
the appellate boards. The final and
entire responsibility of sorting. the
indispensable" men in the ''vitally
necessary" industries is left to these
groups of men.
'"To the district boards" Baker
wrote. "is intrusted the most vital
problem of the war. Two things are
to be accomplished-to raise armies
and to maintain industries. AS the
war proceeds more and more will be
required for the battle line and yet
there are certain industries that
must be maintained to the end,
ANY conceivable diminution of
men must to some extent interfere
with industry. The diminution must
be made and hence it is self-evident
that the problem is to reduce the in
terference to the minimum.
IA balance must be struck and
maintained between the military and
industrial needs of the nation and
the necessary sacrifice must be dis
tributed with scientific accuracy.
"The interest of individuals or as
sociations cannot be considered as
such. 1t is the interest of the nation
solely that must be considered"
With letter number of nomina-
tions from the American fedora
tion of labor, the council of national
defense and the chamber of CONNER
ce of the United States were submit
ted to the governors.
In thickly populated sections the
boards are vested with original juris-
diction in occupational claims for ex-
emption. An appeal from their de-
cision to a national central tribunal
: is provided for. In most cases of
appeal on dependency cases, the ap-
, appellate boards act as the board of
: review.
Many of the governors have al
! ready sent tentative nominations to
the upper boards.
Claims for exemption because Of
dependents, may be made by the man
himself, his wife, or other depend
ents or by third party who has per-
) sonally investigated the case.
A claim by husband, must be
, accompanied by supporting aff1dav-
its. signed by his wife and by the
head of family residing in the same
territory.
A claim by wife or third party
must be accompanied by two sup
porting affidavits, signed by heads
of families.
The local boards are required to
} pass upon claims for exemption or
, discharge within three days after the
filing of aff1davits.