The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-28
UNCLE SANS Army.
TlE NEW sELECTIvE SERVICE
SYSTEM.
Gen. Crowier Explains Its Aims, Its
Accomplishments and Its Future.


To The Local and District Boards;
Last July we were confronted with
the necessity of placing $4,000 re-
cruirs In mobilization camps just as
fast as the factories OF the country
could furnish uniforms and arms and
the building enterprises OF the nation
could erect the Is great canton
mcnts TO receive them. The time lin
II was clearly defined. The necessity
was pressing. We were committed To
The principle OF selection. The field
OF selection comprised nearly TO-
o0o 900 men. Unquestionably, OF these
e.Oo0,O ,OOo there were some particu-
lar sS7.0 600 OF them whose taking
would interfere with the Industrial
and economic life of the nation Bu:.
IN the very nature OF things they
could only have heon searched out by
examining the whole 10000 200.
There were two ways TO do this. one
was TO make a graduated classification
of men placing I'm the first class thoss
who. Of the whole 100000 could
best be spared. In the second class
those who could next be spared. and
90 forth through all the classes. An
other way was TO make only two
classes. but 10 so liberalize exemp-
t6ons from the first class as 20 make II
comprise only about $4,000 men.
Both methods required more time
than we had at our disposal. for we
were warned that at about this time
Of the year the camps would he rcadg
TO receive. arm. and equip the first
draft. IL was very apparent that un-
der no new and untried system could
10000. 900 men be examined i'm such
n short time. In this state of affairs
there was but 0ne thing TO DO and that
thing we did We established rules for
exemption restrictive enough To per-
init IN &c produce $4,000 selectives
i'm 10 weeks time and yet liberal
enough TO protect industries. farms.
governmental organizations. and fam
lilies from any very great hardship.
Moving breathlessly. supported by
the governors OF rhe states and by
the members. OF our selection boards
with patriotism, devotion. and un-
selfish zeal that remains an inspira-
ticn TO the nation. we have accom-
pllshed our purpose within the time
limits at our disposal
We are In this war to attain victory.
We have taken one great step. but Il
Is only one step. As our military
need for men grows so will our i'm
dtIstrial need for labor grow. We have
hacked the first increment OF our arm
les ont with broadax because there
was time for no greater refinement
We must pare future increments away
with greater discrimination. The Sc
lecuve principle must be carried TO
its logical conclusion and we mus,
meet Prussian efficiency with great
er American effectiveness. We must
consider the circumstances OF all
rcgistrants. We must arrange them
In the order i'm which they can he TAX
en- with the least disturbance and thus
Place behind our battle lines sources
OF recruitment that will furnish men
as they are needed. This means a
segregation OF reeistrants i'm classes
arranged In the order OF their avail
ab llty for military service.
scientifically the greater the mum
ber OF classes the less would be the
disturbance 10 our economic life.
Practically and after an exhaustive
study OF our experience. we find that
the circumstances Of registrants caus
them To fall quite naturally into five
ciasscs.
By the great drawing I'm Washing
ton the order OF availability for all
men whose circumstances were cauai
was determined. We shall not dis
turb this order unless some great
need OF the nation requires II. W.
shall make four classes OF temporary
and contingent discharges. but with
I'm each class Including the class Of
those Immediately available) men
shall stand In the order determined
by the drawing.
Tho unit for classification is the
Jurisdiction Of a local board. The first
clrss i'm any Jurisdiction will meet all
calls until II Is exhausted. whereupon
the second class becomes available.
You have before you sheet show
ing the classification that must be ac-
con, plished yyithout Dermfttint, vour