The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-07-12
EXEMPTION RULES
ISSUED BY WILSON
PREPARATIONS FOR MORILlzA.
TlON HAVE ADVANCED AN.
OTHER STEP.
Procee Of Selection Will Likely Not
Be Made Known Until Draftina
Time Is Near.

mobilization Of the first contingent of
$500 troops of the new national army
advanced another step when President
wilson promulgated the regulations to
govern exemptions from military SER
vice. In the order in which they must
come there are three steps in the or
ganiZatfon process Of the national army
as prescribed by Congress. They are
registration, selection and exemption.
The first step has been carried
through. The regulations issued cover
in detail the operation of the third
step, exemption.
information concerning the second
step In the series is still lacking, and
officials are guarding closely the meth
od by which selection is TO be applied
The exemption regulation announc-
ed that the boards will be advised Of
the selection process later, although
none OF the steps prescribed except
the organization Of the boards can be
carried out until the selection machin.
cry has furnished the names of the
men whose fitness and desirability for
army service the boards are to Judge.
There Is one hint as to how the selec-
tion machinery is to work.
The local boards are directed upon
organization to take over from the reg
istration precincts the cards and lists
Of the men registered on June S, and
as their first duty, to provide a serial
number for each registration card
This has given support to the belief
that the selection is to be by number
Reports were current recently that the
selection drawing was to be made in
Washington.
May Delay Announcements.
Presumably the process Of selection
will be announced only a short time
before 1t is put in operation. When
that will be is not known. September
mas been the tentative date set for
calling the 625,000 OF the first contin.
gent to the colors for training. Prog.
ress with construction Of the sixteen
divisional cantonments for the troops
VIII govern the action. 1t Is believed
there will be no serious delay.
The exemption process will not take
great deal OF time. 1t is difficult to
calculate the time the local boards will
needtn passing on the cases that come
before them. The regulations provide
that decision in any individual case
shall not be delayed more than three
days by the local board, or an addi-
uonal five days when appeal is taken
to the district boards. The whole pro-
cess probably can be carried through
In less than thirty days.
There were no surprises in the ex-
emption regulations. The task of pass
Ing upon the individual cases is left
entirely to the local boards While the
President reserves the right to desig.
nate industries necessary for the pub.
lie good. the question of whether re-
tention Of any individual engaged in
these industries Is essential is left to
the boards
III statement accompanying the
Of the regulations, the
PRESIDENT called upon the boards to
40 their work fearlessly and impair.
TALLY and to remember that "our ar.
mics at the front will be strengthen.
cd and sustained if they be composed
or men free from any sense Of injus.
tice in their mode of selection" The
statement follows:
The Statement.
"The regulations which / am TODAY
causing to be promulgated pursuant
to the direction of the selective SER
vice law, cover the remaining steps
OF the plan for calling into the ser.
vice of the United States qualified
ho !,
those selected as the result OF this
process to contribute, with the reg
ular army, the national guard and the
navy, the fighting forces OF the ma
tion, all Of which forces are under
the terms Of the law placed in a DO.
sition Of equal right, dignity and re.
sponsibility with the members of all
other military forces.
"The regulations have been drawn
with view to the needs and cir.
cumstances Of the whole country and
provide system which 1t is expected
will work with the least inequality
and personal hardship. Any system
Of selecting men for military service,
whether voluntary or involuntary In
its operation, necessarily selects some
men to bear the burden Of danger and
sacrifice for the whole nation. The
system here provided places all men
Of military age upon an even plane
and then. by a selection which Meth.
er favors the one nor penalties the
other. calls out the requisite number
for service
Calls For LOYALTY
"The successful operation Of this
law and Of these regulations depends
necessarily upon the loyalty. patriot
ism and justice OF the members OF
the boards to whom It's operation is