New-York tribune., 1917-07-21

taxes Wl1e rs turning MS pdCh VI
his country" he said in talking witt
several Senators about this situation
Under the law. however. no msrnet
man whose wife is dependent upon hin
for support will be taken. and the mere
fact that the wife presumably could 81
out and make her living IL the husband
were drafted will not be construed Il
prove that she is not dependent upor
her husband.
There is no significance whatever
however. TO the fact that double th'
quota of each district is ordered tC
report for examination at once. Thi:
does not mean that the War Depart
ment is of opinion that only so pei
cent of the men examined will be ex
empted. Practically every one concede:
that the exemptions will run way over
80 per cent.
Many officers in private conversstior
assert that. allowing for Dependent
wives. brothers and sisters and parents
for physical disabilities and for occu
pational exemptions because OF indus.
tries essential TO the prosecution OF
the war. the exemptions viii run 70
we'll over so per cent.
This would mean that before the sec.
ond increment was raised. which woulo
be taken from the men already regis
tered under the order established oy
to-day's drawing, almost every man be-
tween twenty-one and thirty at the
time of registration would be put IN
uniform, save those with satisfactory
excuses for exemption.
Beginning of Draft Lottery
The great lottery to fix the order OF
liability for military service OF eacn OF
each OF the ten million men OF the
United States registered for the war
began at 9:49 o'clock this morning. IL
was expected that by some time to-
night every man would know whether
he was among the first 100000 70 De
called before local exemption boards.
From the 100000 the boards are 70
select 6s7. 900 for Americas first draft
army of 10000 and 70 fill up vacancies
IN the National Guard and the regular
army.
In a committee room OF the senate
office building, with representatives OF
the press present. War Department OF,
fcials and members of the SENATE snd
House Military committees began the
drawing of 10000 slips bearing mum,
bers corresponding with the serlal
NUMBERS OF edCn ftRlbdeH1 III INV 80
est district in the country.
Secretary Baker was the frst man 70
withdraw q capsule inclosed alp from
great glass bowl. Blindfoided. ne
drew No. 25s. In every district IN
which as many as 258 men are regis
tered. No. 25s heads the list of those
10 be called.
Chairman Chamberlain Of the Senate
Military Committee drew the second
number. The Senator, blindfolded and
plainly nervous, was unable to locate
the wide-mouthed glass bowl unaided
and after he had groped futileiy for
few seconds an attendant guided his
hand to the capsules. He drew cap
sule and then silently stepped aside.
"The second number is 2,522,' shout
ed the announcer.
The handkerchief then was placed
over the eyes OF Chairman Dent OF the
House Military Committee, and he
withdrew the third number. 9,6lS.
Senator Warren and Representstivee
Kahn, ranking minority members OF
the Senate and the House Military COM
mittees, drew the next two numbers,
4,532 and 1928. Major General Task
er II. Bliss, acting chief of staff OF the
army. drew the sixth number. Just
then a round Of handclapping, the first
applause to break the silence and So
lemnity of the occasion, burst forth.
"The sixth number is 45s," the an
nouncer shouted in stentorian tones.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
drew the next number, 3,403, and Adju
tsnt General Mccain, the eighth man
TO draw. took No. 10.0l5.
The drafting was then turned over TO
the appointed tellers, who, blindfolded,
took from the bowl numbers as fast as
the announcer and the tally clerks
could keep pace.
They drew the numbers from a high,
wide-mouthed bowl set on an oak table
in front of the tally clerks desk. The
bowl was large enough TO contain three
times the number Of gelatine capsules
which were placed in it. The bits of
paper, blaekened on the back SO that
from the outside none could determine
the numbers stamped thereon, were
curlsd into the capsules.
Numbers Posted on Board
As the numbers were announced they
were written on q huge blackboard al
the rear of the tally clerks table.
In only 8 small number of the largest
districts will the numbers above few
thousand affect registrants. Of the
1857 registration districts throughout
the country the largest district has
something over 10000 numbers, Will,
the smallest has only about 1856, sht
the average is around 5000. As tn,
drawing proceeded 1857 numbers wer,
withdrawn before one low enough Il
affect the smallest district came out
1t was 1875, placing 4,557 men numbere,
126 on their local lists as 18TH in orde
Of liability.
The room in which the drawing tool
place, high ceilinged and light, AM
about 20 by 30 feet, was crowded will
army officers, members Of the Hous
and Senate committees and newspspe
men, the latter seated about a Ion,
table running more than half tn,
length Of the room. Photographer
with binding lights planted their cam
eras and psraphernslia close to tn,
little group at one end of the room
about the table on which the bowl wal
set. Motion picture men also recorded
the first two minutes of the drafting
We have mat this morning" an
nouneed Secretary Baker in openin,
the proceeding, ITO conduct the lot Of
draft by which the National Army ant
such additions as may be necessary Il
bring the regular army and the Ma
tional Guard up 20 war strength ar,
to be selected. This is an occasion o.
very great dignity and some solemnity
II represents the first application Of
principle believed by many of US I,
oe thoroughly democratic, equal an,
fair in selecting soldiers to defend tn,
national honor abroad and at home.
81 take this occasion 10 say tina
every step has been most hopestl!
studied with a view not only 10 pre-
serving throughout the utmost fair