New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07


OF the men who have registered. The
first reports showed that the Census
Rureau estimates Of eligibles had not
been equalled, but officials pointed out
that the numbers by which one or two
cities alone had exceeded the estimates
would wipe out the entire deficiency
Of the several smaller states sending
in the first official returns.
In some Of these cities registration
still was in progress to-day, the At
torney General having approved the ac-
ton Of Provost Marshal General Crow
der in authorizing an extension OF time
where cards were lacking or where the
registration machinery proved otner-
wise inadequate TO its task.
Until the records of the great manu-
featuring centres are completed results
Of the registration cannot be gagged
accurately.
General Crowder said tonight that 1t
was not to be expected that the regis
tration figures would check with the
census estimates, if for no other reason
than because some hundreds OF thou-
sands of men in the army and navy and
National Guard were not required to
register
Slackers Are Few
Messages from Governors all over the
country showed that there are rela-
lively few slackers to be dealt with
Already the machinery of the govern
ment is moving to bring these few to a
reckoning.
The chief factor in bringing the quit
tcrs to book, however, will not be legal
processes. General Crowder and the
forces Of the Department Of Justice
place full reliance in the people them
selves in bringing forward these shlrk-
ers. No plan that would serve that end
will be overlooked. No man skulklng
in temporary safety because he Is
stranger in his community, or because
his age is not known, will escape II the
processes of law can bring hlm 10 an
accounting. But IL is upon the mag
nation Of men and women, whose sons
or other kin have faced the issue with
courage and cheerfully recorded their
names. that the government chlehy de-
pends TO bring slackers into the open
AS the registration figures came IN
tonight. the work Of preparing for the
next great step proceeded without IN
terruption. Already the regulations
which will govern exemptions are vir-
tually complete. II is probable that
few days will see them duly promul-
gated by President Wilson and the
work of assembling the boards in each
community be put in notion
The personal honor of the President,
Of Secretary Baker and of every men,
her Of Congress who voted for the bill
stands pledged TO the statement that
evenhanded justice and fairness to al
men. high or low, white or black, will
govern in the great task.
Millions of registration cards must
DC examined and classified by the Fed
oral tabulator. Those who are wholly
untitled physically for a soldiers grim
business must be eliminated. The
quotas of the states must be assigned
The machinery for distributing this
quota equally through every remote
county or precinct Of each state must
be perfected
Plans for Exemption
The local exemption boards will al
most equal in number the registration
precincts. Assurance has been given
that a mans own neighbors will be the
Judges to pass upon his case. There
were more than $4,000 precincts and
equal decentralization will characterize
the exemption machinery.
President Wilson, upon whom the
law imposes the duty of selecting and
appointing all these boards, probably
will delegate this authority 10 the state
officials. Their loyal and enthusiastic
response, exemplifed in the registra-
lion, IS certain.
Then comes the appointment of the
boards Of review, TO which each man
who may be chosen by his local board
for army duty. may carry his case II
he feels himself wronged. These,
broadly speaking, viii be created 1or
each Federal judicial district, and the
President may appoint them himself.
May Try Jury System.
There is no statement yet available
a. to the process by which men will be
drawn 10 appear before the eXemp-
ton boards. Secretary Baker has
stated that something in the nature Of
Jury wheel might be employed. but
beyond that no information has been
given out.
Reports to-day from all parts of the
country bore out the indications of last
nlght tndL lut great tuStA ~ 4SN lte'N
besn carried through without objec-
ton or opposition from sufficient
number of citizens TO be worthy OF
mention Registration was completed
virtually without disorder; certainly
with only a small part of the disturb
ances that usually characterize ma
tional elections.
General Crowder tonight outlined
what Is to follow the great enactment
in the following statement:
Registration marks the completion
Of the first well defined step in the
execution Of the selective service law.
The actual recording has been prac-
ticelly finished IN a single day, but
the arrangements and copying of
the cards, their aggregation into
appropriate groups, the publication Of
lists and the Garncring in Of delayed
registrations viii consume week or
ter days. In the meantime the ma
chineIy Of the registration IS being re-
adjusted 70 serve as machinery for the
further execution OF the law. This
work is proceeding rapidly and should
be completed CONFIDENTLY with the
tying up Of the loose ends OF rogistra-
tiOn.
"When this is all done regulations
governing the jurisdiction Of the local
boards will be issued, and the ma
chinery will then be ready TO proceed
TO the drawing, which will result in a
determination OF the order in which