Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1917-07-28
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.


Americas war lottery, to determine
the men who shall make up the Ma
donal army, was held In Washington
EOn Friday, July 20. The whole pro-
lceeding. as devised by Provost Marshal
General Or0wder and his aids, was cal
lculated to make the draft absolutely
fair and to give the young millionaire
and the young laborer equal chances
to serve their country, provided they
are physically and mentally fit. All
the names Of the nearly ten million
lregistrants were drawn, the element Of
chance determining the order in which
they shall be called before the exam
lining boards in the 4,557 examining
districts. Each local board has been
Informed of the number Of men Ii must
furnish to make up Its quota Of the
l6SE0OO men needed on the first call,
and has been told to call 200 per cent
of the quota for examination, to pro-
vide for exemptions. In the order de-
ltermined by the draft.
Northern senators and representa-
tives have been making strong pro-
tests against the population estimates
tmade by the census bureau for the pur-
Ipose OF determining the quotas for the
draft. The South. 1t is asserted, has
been unduiy favored. The war depart
lment has admitted that the quotas for
the draft were fixed In disregard of
the provisions of the draft law.
Progress and Rows In Washington.
An immense work Of preparation Is
being carried on at Washington by the
scores OF experts In business and tech
nical lines who are aiding the govern
!ment and there is no doubt that all will
come out right eventually. Mean
while there are many annoying dis
lputes and disagreements, perhaps un-
avoidable. The row between Chair
IMAM Denman and General Goethals as
Ito the building of a merchant marine
reached the point where the interven-
Itlon Of President Wilson seemed nee
essary. The manner In which con-
tracts are being let for the government
through the operation Of the advisory
committees OF the council of national
defense have been severely criticized
by Senator Kenyon and others and be-
cause these committeeman often are
Interested In great business concerns
that are being called on to furnish sup
piles to the government, they are ac-
cused OF seeking their own prmoflt.
In most cases such charges are mani
fInaflU .nfuok UhIIa kko
carrying on their interminable discus
sion Of the food bill. a violent attack
was made on Mr.. Hoover by Senator
Reed. who said Hoover had been gam
bling In food and clothing as chairman
OF the American commission for relief
In Belgium. The swift denials OF
Hoover's associates and friends really
were unnecessary.
! The food control bill as finally ar
ranged I'm the senate, contained the
compromise amendments eliminating
from the operation of the measure cot
ton, steel. hides. lumber and all other
articles except food. feed and fuel, and
creating a board OF food admlnistra-
ton consisting of three men. The
nrst of these amendments is In ac-
cord with the wishes OF the admins
tration, and the second is not displeas-
ing to Il, for Hoover Will be made
ehalrman Of the board. He and his
In the food conservation
are not depending too much
on the actions Of congress.
- a.
its inquiry into the costs Of produc-
ing ana marketing food commodities
starting with the Chicago packing In
austry. mo iAysstlGssaes ls 70 spread