Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-25
WILL HOLD ALIENS,
CROWDER DECIDES
But Provost Marshal Cen
eral Directs Giving Them
Chance to File Claims
ISSUE is NOT YET CLEAR
Judge Dickinson Invites Other
Jurists to Hear Italian Cases
With Him Today

Aliens are 10 De given duOlHtI tHdHNt "
file exemption claims-if the local draft
boards are satisfied that they failed to do
so within the time allowance through
ignorance - but aliens whose cl Inns have
been rejected by the local draft and dis
trict appeal boards cannot have their cases
reopened
This is the ruling received from the pro-
yost marshal generals Office at Washing
ton by Assistant United states District At
torney T. Henry Walnut today In reply TO
his query on the jurisdiction Of the Federal
court in the cases wherein aliens were
Jailed when they refused to answer the
summons to report for military service.
The ruling does not cover the case in
question and puts the matter up to the Fed
eral court again Judge Dickinson defer
red decision on tn, cases before him yes
terday, on the ground that II he granted
a writ of habeas corpus the Federal court
would thus assume Jurisdiction over men
actually drafted into the army bringing up
the question whether the military authori'
ties were obliged to obey an order of the
court for delivery there Of the men.
The telegram was as follows;
Governors OF States have been advised
that local boards who are satisfied that
through ignorance aliens failed to file
any calm for exemption, may extend
time for filing claims under Section %,
rules and regulations. In cases where
the claim was hled in behalf of an alien
and rejected by the local and district
boards the above ruling does not apply.
Judge Dickinson has invited his col
league JUICE Thompson, and the Judges Of
the Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the
arguments OF counsel in the seven or more
eases pending, at the hearing this afternoon.
GO BEFORE STATE DEPARTMENT
Counsel for the italian Consulate. in
speaking OF cases involving Italian subjects
here, predict that the matter of twenty vio-
lations will be taken up with the State De-
partment, and that the military authorities
will soon see a light" and transmit orders
to the draft boards to reject all proved
aliens and to the training camp command.
ers to release soldiers who are held against
their desire respecting their treaty rights.
Assistant United States District Attorney
Walnut is still trying to get a more com
prehensive answer to his question. He has
been informed that in case arrested men are
sent to the nearest military post" that
Camp Meade Is that point the local re-
cruiting stations and the navy yard having
refused to take any men under such condi-
tions His office is providing men and the
State Constbutary is sending members Of its
force to escort the extra details that did
not go with the regular contingents on their
scheduled trains either through excus Ible
circumstances or by wilful disobedlence.
To RESUME HEARINGS
District Appeal Board No. . has an
nounced through its chairman, Walter VIII
lard. that II will resume hearings tomor-
row on the second floor of the Record
Building at 9l7 Chestnut street; its clerical
force is already installed in the new quar-
ters and the board is sitting in executive
session.
DR.. Frank C. Hammond. secretary OF No
Board, blames the local boards for the
tangle in the quotas now in Camp Meade
1t is believed that many sent In haste in
order to complete the 45 per cent demanded
by the Provost Marshal Generals Office will
have to be released to their homes il IL is
found that they are illegally conscrlpted
as aliens or II those with appeals or claims
pending are granted discharge
They were sent away he said by
the district boards which were concern
ed only in making up their quotas and
shipping them off to camp as speedily as |
possible OF course, we expect a good part
of them to be excused, and hence all time !
devoted to their training, that might have |
been spent to advantage, will be wasted" |
other pertinent factors are being intro |
duced into the exemption situation in the |
nature Of movements by medical and dental |
college officials to urge discharge from mill !
tary service Of all students in those in |
stitutions, and the statements credited to
Secretary Of War Baker according TO Vim
cent d. Nicholson, secretary OF the Amer
lean Friends Service Committee that
ouakers, or any other conscientious OBJ
jectors to participation in warlike move
'ments, will not be required to go against
their principles,
ATTITUDE OF FRIENDS
Every effort IL being made to recognize
the viewpoint OF the Quakers, according TO
Secretary Nicholson who hopes that Presi-
dent Wilson will not require the Friends
to perform any service, even nOncombatant,
which could by the most minute examina-
tion be construed as participation in the
war
In view of these acts, II Is unlikely that
the Friends will have to take an "obstruc.
Zionist" attitude, he added. but that CO.
operation with the Government, through
constructive service, will continue to be the
keynote OF Quaker activity.
Mr.. Nicholson reported the latest develop
ments OF Friends reconstruction work in
France. An appropriation of 500, 900 has
been made for September, October. Novem-
her by the Red Cross, from which grounds J
for a planning mill and the materials have
been bought The mill will be erected at
Ornans, province of Doubs near Besancon.
France. About seventy-1ve American
Friends will here turn out ten tTansportable
wooden houses each week, In an abandoned
absinthe factory nearby win live about
100 conscientious objectors. where there will
receive training under L. Ralston Thomas,
OF this city, which will be similar TO that |
recently given at Haverford College.
Charles Evans, a manufacturer Of this
city, Is on hts way to Paris to act as execu-
tive head OF the Friends enterprise