New-York tribune., 1917-07-12
Draft Exemption
Work Speeds Up;
Lists Ready Soon
lS9 Local Boards Expected
to Announce Names
Within a Week
Mayors Board Aids
Tribune's Revelation Of Tardi-
ness Helps to Clear
Situation

The revelations in The Tribune, which
yesterday pointed out how the tradi-
ness Of the local exemption boards is
clogging the wheels Of the government
draft machinery throughout the ma
tion, have been followed by general
speeding up Of the work in New York
City.
The situation last night promised
that the 1s9 exemption boards would
be organized and their work Of prepar-
ing the lists for the draft in full swing
within a day or so and completed prob
ably next week. Under the unofficial
but active supervision Of the Mayors
Committee on National Defence things
are moving briskly.
"The atmosphere has cleared in the
last twenty-four hours" said Commits
sioner Edward F. Boyle, of the Board of
Elections, land | believe can predict
that matters will run smoothly from
now on. The trouble has been that
there is no official centralized author
ity. The Mayors Committee, under the
leadership Of Philip j. McCook, think
has done exceptionally well, consider
ing that it has no official status.
Waiting for Organization
"The Board of Elections has virtual
ly completed its task I'm connection
with the draft registration. Only a
few election districts have not finished
alphabetical tabulation of the men reg
istered within their boundaries. For
the most part we are waiting for the
exemption boards to organize and call
for the registration cards
Here is an example Of the confusion
which has surrounded the draft tangle
in New York City. Some time ago it
was announced that all registered men
would have to appear before the OK
emption board Of their respective dis
trict and learn their Serial number"
by which selections for service will be
announced. New York waited for ar
announcement of the boundaries Of
these 1e9 exemption districts. Appeals
were made. but in VAN. Nobody
seemed to know anything about II.
Yesterday II developed that the i'm
portant step of defining these districts
was taken ten days ago. The boun-
daries were worked out in the Office
Of the election commissioners, who
sent a statement of their work TO the
Mayors Committee. Benjamin Day,
secretary of the committee, put the
document in drawer Of his desk.
where it remained until a reporter
asked for it, Mr.. Day was asked why he
had not given the matter out sooner.
"No one said anything about it, he
replied THE list has been mere all
the time, and if any one had called
/ for it they could have had it,
Duplicate Lists Suggested
Mr.. NcCook last night issued a
statement suggesting that the cxemp-
/ tion boards supply to the newspapers
/ duplicate lists of the names Of regis
tered men in their districts, 80 that 1t
would be possible for men drafted to
obtain that information from the press.
/ Mr.. McCook asked for cooperation be-
/ tween the Assembly District and ex-
cmption district boards in order 10
! tighten the burden. which falls so
! largely on volunteer workers. His
statement follows:
] ,,str /, 10
/ Of registration i'm this city WAS done by
/ volunteers and that the task Of making
COPIES Of registration cards and sub
, dividing Assembly District lists accord
/ ing TO the new exemption divisions Is
an arduous one. The committee there
fore suggests that the members OF local
exemption boards cooperate with the
/ Assembly District boards Of registra-
ticu in every possible way by obtaining
vosnteers who will Immediately help
them complete copies in cases whore all
such have not been made, and sort and
sub-divide the cards according 10 the
! exemption divisions where that has not
already been done. Full cooperation
between the local exemption boards and
the Assembly District boards Of regis
tration is essential. especially in the
case of large Assembly districts, If this
preliminary work is to be promptly
done.
"All through the work Of registration
the Mayors committee on national de-
fence assisted the duly constituted au-
thorities in every way possible II
wishes % continue this assistance in
every way open. Not being in charge
Of the draft in New York City. IL has
no power 70 tell the local boards what
they shall do, but will very gladly give
them any information in its possession
and any help i'm It's power.
AS we have frequently said. in our
opinion the authorities at Washington
and Albany are doing the best they can
with very difficult. complicated and
entirely new situation. They have a
right TO expect the public to be patient
in such a situation, and we confidently
predict that they will have the same
/ full coOperation from our people,
through volunteers and otherwise, as
they received in the case OF reglstra-
ton.
"The problem in the City Of New
York is the most difficult IN the whole
country. There is only one way 20 meet
il. and that is by turning in promptly
I and willingly and getting IT done
Mr.. McCoOk requested chairmen OF
exemption boards 10 notify him as soon
as they had selected district hoadquar-
ters.
Neu Army Regiments