The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-20
NEW DRAFT PLANS.
IN NEXT CALL MEN WILL RE
DRAWN ON SELECTIVE
BASIS
All Eligible Men Will be Classified
and Those With Dependents and
Others Valuable to Industry Would
Thus Re Last Called Up.

| Washington. Oct. ia compre-
hensive new plan for applying the
army selective draft. which would
take first only men without depend
ents and of no particular value to
war industries, and establish various
grades of dependency end industrial
value from which future drafts would
be made strictly on the selective draft
basis. has been worked out tentative
ly by the provost marshal generals
office and discussed with the presi-
dent.
The plan, 1T was learned today was
submitted recently to a conference of
civilians, who directed exemption
board activities in a number of States.
and received the Endorsement of most
of them.
1t is proposed to formulate in each
draft district a table of all registrants.
placing each in column denoting his
dependents and industrial value In the
wars prosecution. For instance, hori-
zontal columns or classjfcations would
be based on dependency. Men with no
dependents would be placed in the
first class, those with dependent dis
tant relatives in the second class.
those with wives, in the third class
and so on.
Similarly the vertical columns
might represent certain Industries ar
ranged according to their respective
merit. as war necessities. Industrial
classes under consideration in this
connection are farmers. shipyard en-
ployees. munition workers, railway
and telephone employees, miners.
steel plant and motor industry work.
men and certain other individual
plants or industry branches to be
designated from time to time by the
president or the war department as
temporarily essential.
In selecting men for examination
the board would first take all men
physically fit having neither depend
ents nor value in essential war indus
tries. When this class was exhausted
draft authorities would draw on the
classes having the slightest depend
ency claims and the least value in
essential industries.
No class would be exempted as
such but the valuable men would be
placed so that they would not be
called until the need for soldiers be-
came more urgent and all less es
sential men were exhausted.
The plan involves indication by the
government Of what industries are
the most valuable and this is giving
officials considerable difficulty. 1t Is
understood the entire program will be
made known as soon as completed. I,
allay the anxiety prevailing through
out many industries over the mex
draft, which had been planned for
early as December before the new
plan was proposed. but which nov
may be delayed.
A committee OF officers in the pro-
vost marshars office is at work or
technicalities of the plan, which has
been outlined only in general way to
Secretary Baker and the president.
The proposed plan would meet
President Wilson'S objection to clas
exemption. On the other hand, it is
claimed, it would successfully preven;
the drawing of men into the army
who are needed more in the Industries
OF In agriculture. 1t also would give
each man a more or less definite
place in the liability list and set his,
mind at rest as to when he might bc
summoned for service.
The scheme contemplates imme-
date examination Of all men register
ed, but this course depends on an ap~
preparation, which can not be obtain
ed until congress convenes in Decem-
Der. Advocates of the plan point
out. however. that it might be put into
operation for even a single increment
or IL million men and could be cX-
tended down the present liability lists
as fast as funds were made available
! War department officials explain
that the program is far from complete
and warn that many changes may be
made in the plan drafted now
They say. however, that some claSsi
hcation system seems imperative fox
the future draft calls.
SOCIALISTS SUPPORT KAISER