The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-05-10
Draft System to be in Operation b
Sept. 1St.

1t is the purpose Of the war de-
partment to have all selective draft
machinery in operation by Sept. l.,
and the picking process will begin
then. Gncll that date IL all probahil
ity the existing plans for filing the
regular ;lmy and National u lari
gals with volunteers Will stanI ava
be vigorously pushed.
III will lake no difference What
aS, limits fUI' the Sele tive draft ale
set finally by congress to make up
the draft army, the qao:a tor eacl
Of the states viii not be chaEsad liX-
tension Of the age limit will give
which to make selections for service.
1t is estimated the first draft for
90, 900 between the ages Of Of II
and q Inclusive would result in the
selection OF one in each fourteen
registered and between FL and 40
one in each thirty-two registered:
Machinery carried in the pending
selective draft legislation proyides
that the quota of each state shall be
apportioned among the congression-
al districts, Of which there, are 435
in the United States. These districts
are based on the census population OF
the state, congress authorizing repre-
sentation in the house Of representa-
tives according to the population and
the states being given authority to
form district lines with a view of
equalizing the population OF each dis
trict. Some states, Illinois being
one, have two congressional districts
at large, the state legislature not
laylng divided the state into the full
twenty-seven districts to which it is
entitled. These districts at large
will furnish a quota each similar TO
the quota OF the districts.
Iaro outlined tho D9thW1v
along which the Iowa conscript will
march until he dons his uniform:
Within thirty days after the pas
sage of the army bill there will be a
natlonal registration day called by
prOclamat ton of the president, dur
ing which all those ordered to regis
ter shall present themselves for en-
rollment.
The state erection machinery, it is
contemplated, will be availed Of
where possible in making this regis
tratiOn.
There will be no physical examin-
atoms in advance Of the draft.
Secretary Baker favors use of the
jury wheel system for selecting the
conscripts to be drafted. Following
this drawing Of names Of those en-
rolled for service, exemption boards
in each congressional district will be
put into operation, the law prOvid-
ing for exemptions. These boards
will be composed Of army physicians
to exempt for physical defects az. /
civilians to pass on other grounds for
exemption, including dependent FAM
lies, continuance OF employment in
industries vital to the goverAm ant
and TO the country, etc.
nr,lnued drafts by chance vii, De
made Until the quota OF ac"Hrled
cOnscripts has been made up for each
L',t'rl
Then comes the call to report for
the muster in, the uniforming, depar-
ture for training camps and schools
and beginning of the actual work to
fit the recruits for soldering in
grim earnest.
The war department between now
and Sept. ] will devote its activities
to the training of officers at the six
teen divisional training camps
throughout the country. The army
does not consist at this time OF a Suf-
ficient number Of officers to drill
draft army of 100000 men. 1t can
not call for this purpose all its Of
fiCers from the regular army or lrGm
tn" National Guard. Their services
are needed with their regular units,