Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-13
MILLIONS OF MEN
TO Be ASSIGNED
IN WAITING LISTS
Drawing Will Determine the
Order in Which All Are
to Be Called.
THOSE STANDING AT HEAD
FIRST LIABLE FOR SERVICE
Then Obligation Will Pass ON
Down Line as Long as
There Is Need. W.
DETAILS NOT YET MADE PUBLIC
Actual Process of Selection Probably
Will Be Held During Week
Of July 23.
THOSE STANDING AT HEAD
FIRST LIABLE FOR SERVICE
DETAILS NOT YET MADE PUBLIC
IBy Associated Press,


WASHINGTON. July 12.-Drawing
Of lots for the selcctive draft not only
will determine what men are to be
called to the colors in the first war
army. but will show in what order tho
others registered will be liable for
service when later armies are orr
ganized.
1t was revealed tonight that a plan
of drawing will be followed under
which a definite place in the waiting
lists Will be given every one Of the
millions who registered. Those stand
ing at the head of the list in each coun-
ty or city district will be called frst
before the examination boards and
then the obligation will pass on down
the line as long as men are needed.
name or number will be drawn for
every one of the country's $500. 900
registrants. In fact, every numt.E
| drawn. under the theory of the plan,
will represent more than 1000 nen,
one for each of the registration dis
tricts
DETAILS OF SYSTEM
NOT YET MADE PUBLIC
Details OF the system have not been
made public. but an outline Of Its prin-
cipal features follows:
Every registration board has NUM-
bered the cards In It's possession In
red ink. beginning at number one, and
continuing to a number corresponding
with the total in the district
AT the drawing. numbers will be
used ranging from one up to number
corresponding to the total in the
largest district OF the country.
The first number drawn will: deter
mine what man in each district Is to
be taken first. II it be number ten, for
example. 1t will mean that the man In
each district holding card number ten
Will be called for examination before
any or the other men In that district. IA
The second number drawn will de-
termine what man In each district ia
to be TAX sn second, and SO on. as long
as men are needed. Those not needed
Tor the first war army, Will retain their
! positions on the lists, and these posi-
tons Will determine the order of their
liability when they are needed. -
The drawing will be public, and each
number will be announced as 1t 3 is
orawn. AT the Offices of most local
exemption boards the red-ink numbers
OF the registrants already are posted.
SO that registrants may inform them
selves beforehand Of their respective
In
OF the drawing comes. they will know
in just what order of liability thew
stand
PRO RATA ASSIGNMENT
FOR LARGE DISTRICTS
OBVIOUSLY there will DO high num-
oers drawn for which there are no cor.
responding registrants In small dis-
tricts. The smallest district in the
| country Is understood TO have but 1877
registrants, and the largest about 1000.
Whenever a number beyond the total
In any given district comes out, IL
will operate as blank for that dis
trict Thus IL the tneu-y works out
evenly, the larger districts will be con.
stantly assessed in excess Of the
smaller. on pro rata basis corre-
spending to their size.
The drawing will not take place this
week. and probably Will be held some
time tho week OF July 23. according to
present Indications Only twenty-four
States have completed the rganlzation
of their exemption boards and the post-
| Ing OF red-ink numbers. The drawing
cannot he held until all States are COM
plete, so that no Juggling OF numbers
viii he possible.
The drawing probably will be hold
In the big reception-room OF the
War Department. adjoining Secretary
Bakers offices. The secretary Is willing
to do tho drawing himself but that
point has not been decided. The Presi.
dent will not take part personally In
the drawing. st,3s
1t Is estimated that so per cent of 4
the men examined will be exempted
or fall to pass the physical esamina- \
ton. so that more than 100000 mon
probably Will appear before the boards
before the $4,000 or more, wanted on
q 49, N - y