New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-03
Situation and Feeling Are
Fundamentally Differ
emit To-day
$500 Would Buy
Exemption Then
New York at Mercy of Mob
for Five Days Fifty
four Years Ago

historic New York draft riots They
were the result only in a very minor
sense Of such antagonism to cOmpul.
sory military service as now is mani
testing itself. The similarities of the
TWO situations are theoretical, but su-
rerfcial The differences are funda-
mental
The draft Of 1917 is essentially DEM
ocratic. Exemption cannot be bought
Ii must be for cause.
Tho draft Of 1868. besides being so
conducted as to suggest blind lot
terry with life, the names com
ing out OF wheel like prizes OF fate,
was undemocratic. Exemption could
he bought for money. one whose name
was drawn had either TO 80 20 the
front or pay $500 in money. This was
what really caused the violent protest.
The riots Of 1868 took the city una
sares. on July IS, 1858, at 1880
o'clock in the morning pistol shot
cracked at Forty-sixth Street and
Third Avenue. That shot was the
signal for a reign Of terror which for
five days filed the streets Of New York
with bowling mobs. The man 1t killed
was the first Of hundreds who fell In
the ensuing collisions between rioters
on ono side and police and soldiers on
the other. New York was in the
throcs Of the Draft Riots OF 1858.
Speeches denunciatory OF the gov
eminent and compulsory military ser
vice: the circulation Of inAammatory
handbills urging resistance 10 the
draft; the organization of societies 10
oppose it; activities Of radicals incit-
inc violence these were part OF
the opposition to conscription in 1858
Men OF influence and recognized integ-
rty lent their sympathy and aid 10 the
arti-draft movement-though not 20
the lawlessness attending il. The
crisis developed suddenly. The draw
ing Of names was started Unexpectedly,
on the morning Of Saturday, July IL.
There had been little preparation
aside from the preliminary enrolment
some time before. Up TO the morning
OF the draft. the murmurings OF com
plant had been pitched in a key toe
low 10 alarm the authorities. Even OF
the first day Of the drafting, a certain
apathy seemed 10 hover over thu
throng that had assembled in a littl'
Office room al 677 Third Avenue 20 wit
ness the lottery.
The Draft Wheel
on raised platform at one end o.
the room had been placed great, hol
low wheel, with a crank by which If
might be turned. Into this box-likC
receptacle had been put thousands o.
ii,,le rolls Of paper, each OF whicr
bore name. A. the appointed hour
Of 10. Charles II. Carpenter. clerk
bsre-armed and blind-folded, took his
place beside the wheel. He was &c
draw the names. Another clerk stood
a. the wheel, 70 turn it.
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heard. The wheel stopped and the
,'ers drew back sliding panel Into
the wheel went Carpenters bare arm
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