The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-18
PLAN FOR
SELECTIVE DRAFT IS
UNDER CONSIDERATION

WASHINGTON, oct ia conpre-
hrrsjyr new rian for applying tho army
s,lrctivr draft which would tax" iirst
only men without dependents and OF n"
particular value to war industries. ana
establish various grades OF dependency
ard Industrial valu" from when luture
drafts would h. made strictly on 'he
Sclcctivr basis. has been worked nut
tentatively hy the provost marShhI gem
erals uffir" and discussed with the
president.
The plan. it was learned today, was
submitted recently Ia conference OIL
civilians who directed exemption hoara
activities in a number Of states and re-
CoiHrd the endorsement of most or them
who are now discussing the proposed
plan with their stlag governors.
II is proposed Ia formulate in each
local draft district Il iHhl" of all regis
irHuis, placing each in column denot-
ing his dependents aud induStrl;n value
in ,thc wars prosecution. For instance.
horizontal columns ar rlHSsiIicatinnS
would lac based IN dependency Men
with no dependents would b" placed in
the first class. those with dependent
Distant relatives III the second class,
tniS'' Win WlNtS III Iht IHIIl 'li~N'
those with "A wife AMI one child in the
fourth class. and So ur.
Similarly the vertical columns might
represent certain industries arranged
according To their respective merit rs
war necessities. lnduSi rial Glasses I'M
der consideration In this connection are
farmers. Shipyarh employees. fnunilIon
workers. railway and transportation en-
ployrs. miners. steel plants and motor
industry workmeu and certain other III
dividunl plants or industry branches 10
hr designated from lime tn time Ivy tho
president or tn" war department as tenn
porarily essential. Tlu later classified
l. ti"n might inclu,l." plants making mill
irory clothing. harness. first aid ma
i"riulS or professions such as chemists
nnd other scientific men that arc needed
more for war research than To carry
arms.
Thus the tahl. With horizontal do
p"nd"nCy claSsliCa !uus ami vertical in
duStrial clasSInrittiunS would hold \
place for each rrgi:strant III Accordance
with his Dependency. nr industrial
value claims. In selecting mcn for 'rX-
animation. boards would first take all
men physically lit. having neither de-
pcntlcntS nor value III essential war i'll
duslrics When this class WIS eX-
hauStcd. draft authorities w0ultl draw
Oh the classes having The slightest de-
prnd"ncy claims amd the least value in
essential indus, rrs Theoretically. the
draft would work down through the
table IL The rmssrs with most hrpcnd-
cnlS auh highest Industrial value.
No class would hr exempted uS such.
hut IN" valuable" m"n wuTlh l." placed
So thai they would not h1 called until
In" need for soldiers became more
urgent AMI all Tn" less essential classes
were exhausted.
The plan involves Il determination. by
tn" government If what Industries nre
tho most valuable" anu This is giving
officials considerable" difficulty. Farm
rrS orgauizai ions. shipping board off
rialS AMI sh!rhuilG"r$. munitiom makers.
railroad heads. ""nl operators and many
others are insisting on the prime i'm
l"rtHnrc of lh"ir own employees III civil
work.
|. II is understood tho .ruiIrr program
will Ia. made known soon aS II is
completed and approved by President
Wilson, I" allay tn" anxiety prevailing
throughout MANY Industries over tho
next draft which had been planned for
aS early rs December E"rnr" the new
plan WAS proposed. hut whirh now may
h." Delayed.
y committee Of Officers in III" pro-
vuSt marshal generals nfrir" is ut
work on lr"hulcalit"@ at the plan
which has been outlined only in ger.
"rl way 1" Secretary l:ak"r and tho
ar, sid"nl. TIL" committee. which is ad-
ViSury to General tr"w'!'.r, also is i'll
communication with civilian draft
board members who hav" given study
y, ,.T frSt ,Ir.of
operations.
TIL" scheme rnnt"nurlat"s imm"dat"
examination ~ all men registered. hut
this cnurS" d"l"ndS IN an appropriation
which "aunut H." whiHin"d until con-
gross rnnv'n"S in lh'r"lnb"r. Adrn-
Gates It tn" plan point "u;. however.
thnt il might l." Imi inv" operations for
oven n singh Increment Of Il million
ur.n. and could h. extended down The
present lnirIir, lists as fast as funds
were made aNnilHhlH.