The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-05
DRAFT DODr,.![:!nss;: D,.!:! s;:..'''
nAiI BE SHOT.
If NO APPEARANCE AFTER THE )
DAYS ALLOWED, ACCUSED
DECLARED SELECTED.
REWARD FOR ARREST
When Ii Is Clear That Any Eligible
Citizen Is Absenting Himself Purpose
ly to Escape DUTY Only President
Can Save Him, II Caught.

Washington, Aug. 4.-Reglstered men
who resist the selective draft law face
military court martial for desertion and
| possibility of execution for desertion
| in time of war. The whole military
and civil power of the federal govern.
ment and the civil power Of the states.
cities or counties will be employed.
This was announced tonight by Brig.
General Enoch H. Crowder. provost
marshal general in response to reports
from North Carolina, Georgia and Ok.
lahoma Of anti-draft disturbances
though federal aid has not been in.
voked.
The only official notice received in
Washington Of the disturbances was a
telegram from the governor of North
Carolina that registered men Of two
townships might refuse examination.
No official word had come from Ok.
lahoma early tonight. where the most
serious situation prevails, but there
Will be no hesitation in employing fed.
eral troops if they are needed.
Certain Time Allowed.
In practice, under General Crowder's
construction of the law. registered men
who do not appear for examination will
be 20 ited to the district boards as Sc.
lecteG for military service at expira.
ton of the five-day period allowed
them TO put in an appearance. Two
days more will elapse after their names
reach the district board to await ap.
peal action by the Individual They
VIII then be posted to the adiltant
general Of the state as selected to fiji
the quotas of their district.
orders for general mobilization will
be given some time this month. II
the resistered citizen fails to obey the
order he will be set down as absent
without leave and the machinery Of
the army will get after him. aided bv
all state and municipal police authori
ties and United States marshals.
Charge Of Desertion.
When II Is clear he is wilfully nh.
senting himself, charge Of desertion
VIII be placed against him. and any
civil officer who arrests him will earn
fifty dollars reward II found guilty.
the individual may be sentenced a
ieath. and only the president can save
him.
Thirteen army officers will uass on
the cases Of the men.
Though the government will make no
effort 10 bring in men who do rot obey
the summons until they have passed
into the military status. Il viii use its
power to employ the army to stamp out
disorders in any state when governors
ask for military forces
General Crowder took action today
TO reduce the number of applications
Tor exemption. In a telegram To all
governors he directed that local-b boards
be instructed to furnish daily 10 news.
papers names Of all registered men who
apply for exemption. give grounds for
such claims, and state action by the
board except in cases Of physical DIS
qualifications which are grounds for
rejection by the boards
Text Of Crowder's Telegram
General Crowder's telegram follows:
The names OF all registered men
are on list arranged in the order i'm
which they viii be called for military
service. Wherever any registered per.
son imposes upon a local board and i'm.
properly secures certificate OF exemp
ton or discharge he advances the time
OF call OF all other uncalled persons on
the list.
For this reason every registered per.
son, and to some extent every persor
In the community, is more or less di.
rectly interested in seeing that the
true facts are brought to the attention
OF the government For every local
board a person has been designated who
VIII receive information OF such cases
and take appeals To the district board
or inform the local board
For this reason. the public is on.
titled to know the grounds upon which
claims for exemption or discharge are
heing asked by registered men.
should Publish Exemptions.
Local boards should therefore no
instructed Immediately TO make avail.
able to the press from day TO day the
names OF persons claiming exemptions
or discharges, the ground on which
such claims are based and I'm general
the number OF cases that are being dis.
posed OF by the boards from day TO
day This instructions does not apply.
OF course, 10 discharge on the ground
OF physical disqualification"
Far from regarding the progress of
selection as slow General Crowder be.
lieves rapid strides are being made. II
reports were available tonight he said.
from each OF the 1900 local boards II
would be shown that many thousands
OF men have already been passed phv.
sically, filed no application for ex.
emption and are now merely awaiting
orders TO Join the colors
An accurate estimate of the number
IN this class Is not obtainable.
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