Arizona republican., 1917-08-12
IN INTEREST IF NATION
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11-ReneWed empasis was laid by Provost Marshal General Crowder today upon the fact that congress framed the army draft law in the interest of the nation, not in the individual For that reason the lines are being drawn tight in the mat ter of exemptions
 The government has acted slowly in bringing home to the people the rigid character of the draft act. There has been much discussion of the problem, based on an erroneous view of the laws s purpose which assumed that married men. for instance, would be exempted without question and that the burden of military duty was to be carried fully by the single men among the ten million registered
 General Crowder has taken the posi- tion in recent rulings that married men will be exempted only when it is to the interest of the government that they should be excused from service. If the removal of drafted men from his family circles probably would result in the family becoming a public burden, it is to the interest of the government to leave him in his civil occupation so as not to care for his dependents.
 An interpretation similarly rigid has now been placed upon exemptions for industrial reasons. The government has taken the lead in scrutinizing close ly individual cases among it's employees before asking that they be exempted. Bureau chiefs. who must file affidavits with the proper board showing that a man is indispensable before he can be excused, have been instructed to eXer- else the greatest care Wherever there is a doubt, a call to military service prevails and no exemption is asked.
 District boards throughout the coun- try have been instructed to make the governments action their guide in deal ing with claims for exemption of men in private employment. An employer seek ing exemption for a man he considers indispensable must prove to the board s satisfaction that his industry is neces- ary to the public interest or to the maintenance of the military establish ment, and supplement this with affidav- it's stating the particular individual Is indispensable to the industry. Clrcum stances of employment must be stated and reasons given as to why 1t would De lmpOSSlDIe to TtpldCe tIlS cN man with another not of military age or with a woman.
 Reports to the provost marshal gen eral have indicated plainly the whole sale attempts to evade the draft through the dependency clause of the regula- tions are in progress in many places The additional cautions sent to distric boards in regard to industrial exemp' tions, it is hoped, will forestall similar attempts when that stage of proceed ings is reached. The government is al so in a strong position in regard tt discharges granted by the local selec ton boards because of dependents, a! an appeal has been recorded automau cally in each case and it will be possible to reopen it before the district board and make sure that no evasion of dut! has been permitted.
 The office force at General Crowder headquarters has been reduced mater ially and virtually all the officers wh have aided him in the huge task of car rying through the draft now have beel detailed to the national army. The grea work of the provost marshal general i nearly completed The ministery Of tn draft has been erected and the office O the provost marshal general now vii settle down to the routine of Keeping in operation.