The midland journal., 1917-07-13
PRESIDENT WILSON ANNOUNCES RULES
FOR SELECTION OF NATIONAL ARMY
Be Fearless and Impartial" Admonton Of Executive to Men,
bers of the Various Exemption Boards-To Be No Class
Exemptions and Every Case Will Be
Decided on Its Own Merits.

announcing the regulations for select
ing national war army from the mil
lions registered on June 5, urged upon
every member of every draft board
impartial and fearless performance of
the delicate and difficult duties intrust-
ed" in order that "our armies at the
front may be composed of men free
from sense of injustice in their mode
of selection"
In the near future a date will be set
by Brig. Gen. Crowder provost mar
shal-general, for the meeting and or
ganization of the boards. At the same
time it is expected that the selection
regulations will be promulgated so
that the process may be put under way
without delay. The present intention
is to call the men selected to the col
ors about September l.
All Forces on Equal Footing.
President Wilson's statement fol-
lows:
"The regulations which I am today
causing to be promulgated, pursuant to
the direction of the selective service
law, cover the remaining steps of the
plan for calling into the service of the
United States qualified men from
those who have registered; those Sc
lected as the result of this process to
constitute, with the regular army, the
National guard and the navy, the fight
ing forces of the nation, all of which
forces are under the terms of the law
placed in position Of equal right,
dignity and responsibility with the
members of all other military forces.
"The regulations have been drawn
with view to the needs and circum-
stances of the whole country and pro-
vide system which it is expected will
work with the least inequality and per-
sonal hardship. Any system of select
ing men of military service, whether
voluntary or involuntary in its opera
ton, necessarily selects some men to
bear the burden of danger and sacri-
fee for the whole nation. The system
here provided places all men of mill
tary age upon an even plane, and then,
by a selection which neither favOrs the
one nor penalties the other, calls upon
the requisite number for service.
OTACS 0OcIuS " MI
'The successful operation of this
law and of these regulations depends
necessarily upon the loyalty, patriotism
and Justice of the members of the
boards to whom its operation is com
mitted, and admonish every member
of every local board and of every dis
trict board of review that their duty
to their country requires an impartial
and fearless performance of the deli
cate and difficult duties intrusted to
them. They should remember as to
each individual case presented to them
that they are called UPON to adiudicate
the most sacred rights of the individ-
ual and to preserve untarnished the
honor of the nation.
sour armies at the front will be
strengthened, and sustained if they be
composed of men free from any sense
of injustice in the mode of selection,
and they will be inspired to loftier eff
forts in behalf of a country in which
the citizens called upon to perform
high public functions perform them
with justice, fearlessness and impair
tiality."
Methods of Making the Draft.
Upon organizing the local boards
will take over from the registration
boards all registration cards, which
they will number serially and list for
posting to public view. Then, after
having been advised of the method by
which the order of liability for service
shall be determined and of the quota
~ IL i+e.t (,,,fv
credits for enlistments in the National
Guard or regular army, each board
will prepare list of persons designat-
ed for service in the order of their liza
bility. post the list, give it to the press,
and within three days send notice to
each designated person by mail.
AS the men so notified appear the
boards first will make a physical eX-
animation in accordance with special
regulations to be provided, bearing in
mind that all persons accepted by them
will be re-examined by army surgeons.
If the physical examination is passed
successfully, then comes the question
OF exemption.
Those Entitled to Exemption.
Persons who must be exempted or
discharged by the local board include:
Officers of the United States of the
states, territories and the District of
Columbia; ministers of religion, stu
dents of divinity, persons in the mill
tary or naval service of the United
States, subjects of Germany all other
aliens who have not taken out first
papers, county or municipal officers,
customhouse clerks, workmen in fed
eral armories, arsenals and navy
yards, persons in the federal service
designated by the president for ex-
emption, pilots merchant marine sail
ors, those with n status with respect
Animal Trainers Win Fortunes.
Since the beginning of time mankind