The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-07-13
President Insists on Equality in.
the New Army.
BE FEARLESS AND IMPARTIAL
AdmonItlon to Exemption Boards
Asks Greatest ImpartIaIIty and
Least Personal Hardship
Each Case on It's Merits.

- hthifHiihf 0tht AiAfg AiVAi Attt
lions registered for service on June s,
were issued at the direction Of Presl-
dent Wilson. They leave TO be pre-
scribed later the manner Of determIn-
ing the order OF liability of the men
registered, but set forth In great de-
tail the method Of arriving at exemp-
tions and the work generally Of the
local and district boards already
named to carry out the task.
Exemption regulations add little to
the terms Of the draft law, the ques-
ton of whether man between the
ages Of twenty-one and thirty Is en-
Titled 70 exemption because Of depend
ents. the nature Of his occupation or
physical unfitness being for the boards
10 decide after proper investigation. II
IT. made clear. however. that there are
70 be no class exemptions and that
each individual case must be decided
upon It's merits. The local boards
one for each county of less than 49,
900 population or city OF 10000 with
additional boards where necessary for
each additional 10000 population--wiil
pass upon claims for exemption. ex-
cept those based upon Industrial or
agricultural occupation, subject to APP
peals to the district boards. All
cases involving agricultural or indus
trial exemptions win be passed upon
by the district boards-one for each
federal judicial distrlct--which also
x.ftlI ,laf.fda anpaaIo From. aaoIetnns, 30
the local boards.
To Fix Date for Board Meetings.
In the near future date will be set
by Brig. Gen. Crowder, provost mar
for the meeting and or
ganlzation of the boards At the same
time 1t Is expected that the selection
regulations Will be promulgated so
that the process may be put under way
delay. The present intention
Is TO call the men selected to the col
ors about September 1.
In statement accompanying the an
nouncement OF the regulations, the
president called upon the boards to do
their work fearlessly and impartially
and to remember that "our armies at
the front will be strengthened and sus-
tnined II they he composed Of men free
from any sense OF injustice in their
mode Of selection"
All Forces on Equal Footing.
The statement follows
"The regulations which I am today
causing to be promulgated, pursuant tc
the direction of the selective service
law, cover the remaining steps of the
plan for calling into the service of tn,
United States qualified men from
those who have registered; those sc
fected as the result OF this process t.
constitute, with the regular army, tn,
National guard and the navy. the fight
ing forces Of the nation, all of whicl
| forces are under the terms of the Law
placed In position of equal right
dignity and responsibility with tn
| members OF all other military forces
"The regulations have been draw
with view to the needs and eircum
| stances Of the whole country and pre-
vide a system which II Is expected wi
work with the least inequality and pei
sonal hardship Any system Of select
Ing men of military service. whethe
voluntary or involuntary In It's opert
tion, necessarily selects some men
bear the burden OF danger and sacr
fee for the whole nation. The systel
here provided places all men OF mil
tary age upon an even plane, and thel
by a selection which neither fnvors III
one nor penalties the other, calls upo
the requisite number for service.
Urges Boards to Act lmpartisliy.
'The successful operation OF tn
law and OF these regulations depen'
necessarily upon the loyalty. PATRIOTS
and Justice OF the members OF Il
boards to whom its operation Is col
mltted. and admoTlish every memb
OF every local board and of every d
trlct board OF review that their du
| to their country requires an imparti
. and fearless performance of the de
/ cate and difficult duties intrusted
! them They should remember as
each individual case presented to the
. that they are called upon to adjudice
the most sacred rights Of the indy
ual and to preserve untarnlshed |
!, honor OF the nation.
sour armies Mt the front will
strengthened and sustained II they
I composed of men free from any ser
! Of injustice in the mode of selecti
r and they viii he Inspired to loftier
Il forts In behalf of country in VIII
she citizens called upon TO perfo
o high public functions perform tn
o with Justice. fearlessness and imp
n. TALLY"
IS Methods Of Making the Draft.
Upon organizing the local boa
"a win take over from the .reglstrat
a. boards all registration cards. VIII
g they will number serially and list
~ posting to public view Then. al
m having been advised of the method
\ which the order of liability for ser1
/, shall be determined and of the gu
20 to be drawn from Its territory (mi
!, credits fer enlistments in the Matte
Guard or regular army, each DO
viii prepare list of persons tlesigl