The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-05-26
PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL
MUST RAISE ARMIES FoR q
THE UNITED STATES.
Work Of once Largely lnersassd By
Extension Of the Age LimIt-Ns F..
voritlsm VIII BE shown n the Con-
sehptIen. .
By EDWARD D. CLARK.

the judge advocate general or the
United States army. Enoch HI
Crowder. to make Of him provost
marshal general. A man Of fine legal
attachments and Of force Of character
and soldierlike qualities was needed
for the big Job confronting the coun-
try. The administration stood by the
principle Of selective CONSUMPTION,
and 1t must abide by the judgment OF
the people upon Its success or Its fall
ure. General CrOwder viii direct the
great work.
Heavy responsibility today rests on
the shoulders Of the provost marshal
general. To him has come the great
labor Of raising armies for the United
States to fight for the principle 81
democracy and the downfall Of despot-
ism.
There is no office In the city Of
Washington today which is 80 studious-
ly busy as that Of the provost marshal
general. General Crowder picked his
subordinates. They came from vari.
Gus branches of the service and are
known as men Of discrimination, tact
and executive ability, and as soldiers
unafraia to do their duty.
1t can be said today that the ma
chinery for the registration day OPP
erations Is ready. 1t was planned, ad-
justed and made ready for use by the
Judge advocate general before an
nouncement was made that he was to
be the provost marshal general.
Age Limit Increased Work.
The work of the Office has been in
creased largely, as has that Of the
registration boards in the different
states by the extension Of the age limit
of the men to be chosen for service.
1t was the earnest wish Of all army
| officers that the outside age for service
! should be twenty-seven years. Opin-
ion as to the wisdom Of fixing the age
| at twenty-seven Is based not on the
extra amount of work necessary II the
limit were extended. but upon the plain
military sense of forming an army of
men little under and little over
the majority age. ID
In everything that the provost mar
shall general has made public concern
| ing the plans of office he has empha.
sized the fact that 1t Is the intention
| of the law that as little hardships as
possible shall be worked upon the coun-
try. The law In effect is self-execut-
ing, and nothing except misunderstood
ing on the part Of officials and Of the
! people themselves will interfere to pre-
{ vent the harmonious working out Of
the plan as 1t has been formulated.
Questions by the thousands have
been asked of the war department, by
/ the people since the selective con-
scription act first was proposed. All
these questions have been turned over
for answer to the Office Of the provost
| marshal general. Personal replies In
every case have been impossible. An
attempt has been made to make an
swer through the press.
No Favoritism to Be Shown.
The first anxiety Of the people Of the
United States seemed to concern itself
with the possibility that some moth
er's son was to escape, while another
mothers son was to be made to serve
Some mothers sons will escape while
others will serve, but there will be nc
favoritism shown In the matter.
All Of the men between the age
limit fixed will not be needed for the
service. Many Of them will be exempt
because Of the nature Of their employ
rient. or because they have persons de
pendent upon them for their livelihood
When the names Of all those who arr
liable to service are known, the selec
lions will be made by lot. One moth
er's son may be more fortunate In thu
lottery than another mothers son, br
later the other mothers son may b,
obliged 10 60.
Enoch Ii. Crowder provost marsha
general of the United States is grad
uate of the United States Militar
academy of the year 1851, He wa
born in Missouri, and was appointed L
! West Point from that state. Early Il
4 his service he was cavalry office
and distinguished one. lie stud
y led law and entered the judge advC
cate generals department of the army
ne WIS ihoue JuVsc "uNoSa'c s'he'"
In 1911.
4 The Office OF the provost marsha
general not only Is responsible for IN
X itiating and directing the registratio
I proceedings by which the army is t
\ be raised, but 1t is charged with tn
duties of seeing TO 1t that there ar
K no violations of the law. There wi
he many fine legal points TO be decide
in connection with examinations, an
\ moreover it is possible that becaus
Of the desire of some men TO escap
service, punitive proceedings may b
s necessary. Therefore it is that Law
yer and soldier, unafraid 10 do hi
= duty Is made provost marshal ger
eral of the United States.