Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-21
DRAFT BRINGS WAR
CLOSER To HOMES
EAGERNESS AND SORROW STIR
RED sY ANNOUNCEMENT OF
NUMBERS OF DRAWING.
CROWD CLINICS TO PLACES
WHERE NUMBERS ARE SHOWN
Pathetic Incidents Of Draft Seen in
Crowds Before T.-R. Bulletins as
Numbers Are Posted Drawing
Brought Sorrow to Many Homes in
City and Country Friday Night.

The great war struck home Friday
and today. The great sacrifices de-
manded In the name of democracy
pushed right into the midst of hum
dreds of city and country homes in the
county with the announcement of the
drawings for the national army. The
necessity for personal service and sac
rifice has been brought closer to more
families by the drawing than by any
one of the other momentouS steps the
government has taken to take its place
by the side of the allies in the struggle,
The drawing must steel hundreds for
the further and greater tests of their
patriotism and their sacrifices. The
selections are next to be made of the
first few hundred drawn and those
selected will march away to regular
army, national guard, and cantonment
of recruits.
Pathos in the Drawings.
All these things were shown in the
consuming interest and sorrow that
was brought out by the ANNOUNCEMENT
of the numbers drawn. Young men
who had registered, their mothers,
fathers, brothers and sisters were
drawn to every means of finding the
numbers as tho by magnet Many
found the number they hoped not to
find. Many mothers wet their pillows
with their motherly tears Friday night
and a resignation to sorrow settled
about many q family ffreside as 1t
gathered for its evening meal.
All day a crowd hung about the T.-R.
bulletin board, sometimes 1t grew In
numbers so the sidewalk was blocked.
This morning 1t gathered again aid
was there all thru the day.
It was quiet little gathering. There
were moist eyes and tears sprung from
some who looked. A gray-haired moth
er found the name she had prayed she
would not find early in the list. Weep
ing she went away. Such a scene was
repeated in scores and scores Of homes
Last night.
NewspaperIist Devoured.
Had the T.-R. been able to have
compiled lists ten times as long as 1t
did they would have been as eagerly
devoured. AS it was, by working at
top speed and without stopping even
for lunch, the newspaper men cimpiled
and published practically the entire list
furnished blythe Associated Press up to
a late hour.
Copies of the T.-R. were in ire
anendous demand as soon as they were
put on the street. Outside dailies, pub
lished earlier in the day without any OF
the numbers, were without buyers.
Late In the afternoon, everywhere
along the streets were groups and in
dividuals scanning the paper for names
drawn. One slight girl, evidently, sent
for paper, stood on the curb running
her finger down the list. OF sudden
the finger stopped part way down a
column Crumpling the paper in her
hand she turned and ran homeward, a ,
bearer Of unwelcome news.
One merchant got several copies Of
the paper and pasted the pages with
the numbers IN his windows. They
drew crowd before they were fairly
fastened to the glass.
Patriotism Is Stirred.
Among all the talk and the efforts
already made by many to secure ex-
emptions numerous instances Of patri-
otism have appeared. They are the
honor men Of the draft, such as this
one He is a young man in an uptown
office. He nearly yelled for joy when
he found his number in the list.
ASK for exemption? Not much"
said he. my folks wouldn't let me
enlist when wanted to. Now I'm go
ing anyway"
Pint IN nv far tho greater nl1rnher of
young men having real manhood and
patriotism is the quiet determination
to make no fictitious claims for exemp-
ton, but quietly to take their chances
in the physical exemption and if they
are taken to go like men resolved to
do their duty for their country.