Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-10
DEPENDENTS MAY
CEASE TO EXEMPT
Wholesale Claims for Release
Because Of Home Strings
Threatens Section.
STRICT RULINGS INSTRUCTED
Provost Marshal Says Nothing
Shall Stand in Way of
Raising Army.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-whole-
sale claims for exemption from the
army draft, reported from many Sec
tons, caused Provost Marshal Gem
eral Crowder to telegraph the govern
ors OF the states tonight that local
boards must refuse discharge for de-
pcndency TO far more restricted
class and according TO clearly defined
circumstances"
Section May BE Stricken.
In some districts eighty per cent OF
reglstrants are filing claims for dis
charge on the ground of dependent
relatives. such "A condition indicates
General Crowder said, unfair advant-
age being taken OF regulations de-
signed To protect men who properly
should he exempted from military
service and threatens to interfere se-
riously with raising the national
army.
The message follows:
Section 2 OF the selectlve orafc
law eNempts no person from military
service on the grounds Of dependency.
Ii only authorizes the president to
exclude or discharge from draft those
In status with respect to persons
dependent upon them for support
which renders their exclusion or dis
charge advisable.
Army Must BE Raised.
THE necessity Is to raise an army.
II Is advisable to disturb dependents
as little as the necessity of raising an
army Will permit. To this send section
Is OF the regulations was compiled
carefully and after earnest consider
alton. II experience is to prove that
the generous conditions prescribed
by section lS or any abuse OF them
Will interfere with raising an army.
then IL Is no longer advisable to dis
charge so wide "A class and conditions
stated herein will have to be re-
stricted until an advisable rule 10
reached.
Nothing has happened to change
belief that persons enumerated IN
section Is could be discharged without
interfering with raising an army. but
there are indications that abuses of
section Is may render its continuance
no longer advisable.
Many Claims UnfOundcd.
There. is moral certainty, In the
extravagances OF this proceeding that
Hundreds OF unfounded claims are in
Guided In these totals
This state of affairs greatly in
creases the burden OF local boards II
so high percentage OF registiants
claim exemption only uncomprornising
action of local boards can prevent a
new regulation which shall reduce dis
charges for dependency to a far more
restricted class and to necessitous and
clearly defined circumstances.
I'm absence OF stern repression by
local boards OF unmeritorious claims
this result is inevitable since such pro-
ceeding of exemptions as reports OF
claims indicate would nullify the law
and prevent raising an army.
1T Ii thus apparent that filing ihese
improper claims will react directly
and injuriously on persons whor, the
present regulations were designed to
protect and that welfare of persons
who have filed bona fide claims is seri-
ously imperilled by persons who have
filed claims without merit and the only
protection OF persons whose cases are
within the meaning Of the present
rules lies in power OF local boards to
refuse exemption in doubtful cases.
1T is true cases OF discharge fci de-
pendency are appealed to the district
board but this is only inserted 20 Sc
cure uniform action. District boards
are to examine these cases to discover
! departures from law. regulations and
rulings and cannot open every case on
its merits. II is In the local boards
alone therefore that solution OF the
difficulty and protection of deserving
claimants lies"