The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-28
From Other
Editorial Pages
aOLD PITTS. EXAMPLE

odlt Lake city Tribune. When Israel
Putnam, "Old Put" as he is known in his
tory, heard that war had broken out
between the thirteen American colonies
and Great Britain he left his plow stand
ing in the field mounted one of the
horses and made haste to get into the
thick of the fight. He did not file any
claims for exemption on account of be-
ing farmer or because he had de-
pendent relatives, but buckled on his
sword and went looking for redcoats.
There were many others like "Old Put"
in the days of the revolution. Had this
not been the fact the republic never
would have been established and we
who are so proud Of our American citi.
zenship would have been subjects Of
King George today.
Undoubtedly there were "slackers" in
the colonies who evaded military service
during the seven long years of the revo-
lution-men who would b. slaves rather
than risk their lives in battle for free.
dom. There were men in the Civil war
days who not only refused to enlist but
become rioters when drafted But there
We're enough of the boys in blue to save
| the Union and their descendants take
great pride in the achievements of the
patriots who responded to the call of
Abraham Lincoln. On the other hand
we have never heard of any one boast
ing that their father or grandfather had
rebelled against the government when
drafted or even furnished a substitute
a practice which is not allowed under
the present law.
! The young men OF today owe some
thing to the memory of the heroes of
1861 and 1776. If they have any pride
in a family name or family record they
will do their duty in this crisis in order
that their descendants may not have
to remain silent when the world war is
discussed. while blushing with shame
for Their ancestors. The selective draft
law is not working so well as expected
because it could not be forseen that so
many young men, lacking the spirit of
patriotism, would file fictitious claims
for exemption after waiting to be
drafted. But this Is what many hun
drers Of them have done and men who
have wives and little children depend
ent upon the daily labor Of the hus
bands and faith ers are placed in a false
position. Without doubt a great many
of the men with families who will bC
exempted, as it is right they should be
would have volunteered II they haC
been footloose when war was declared.
II is said in a statement issued by
, Provost Marshal General Crowder tina
eighty per cent Of the men coming VI
for examination have claimed exemption
for one cause or another. Some of thes,
claims were legitimate. without doubt
others were not II has. therefore, be
come necessary TO send out instruC
: tions to the exemption boards TO re
strict the number OF discharges for de
. pendency TO very necessitous and clear
!, ly defined circumstances. The exemT
: tion boards are supposed to exercise
: wise discretion in this matter and ais
in passing upon claims for discharge o
the drafted man on account of the nf
: ture Of his occupation. AS we undei
!, stand II no man otherwise qualifie
:. is to be exempted unless engaged in a
industry upon which the successful Il
sue of the war in part depends. in whic
case the drafted man must conclusivel
; prove that his services are absolutel
= indispensable to such industry. Their
s will be no scandal If the exemptio
d boards all over the country do their fu
l. duty and the men who have volunteere
a. and those who have drafted and mad
II no claim for exemption will not con
le plain.