The Washington times., 1917-07-18
To Every Officer of the
Government
Something Each oA High Has Under Him Men
Eligible to Draft Should Bear In Mind
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

The United States Government is the principal employer
IN the District of Columbia Just the Government Is
calling upon employers throughout the country to give up
their to the nations service Exemptions it is
quested shall be claimed only in when individuals are
to industry and cannot be replaced What the
Federal authorities asking the employers throughout the
United States to do they surely will ungrudgngy want to
do themselves when the call comes.
Many people have been harboring the erroneous i'm
their minds that job with the Government meant
exemption from military service This isn't true. Yet 1t
would be absurd to insist that the Government must upset
which is the quota of the District of Columbia 1t is oppor
tune therefore to examine exactly what the Regulations
issued by the Provost Marshas Office based upon the
lective draft law say In this connection:
persons employed in the Service of the United States
designated by the President to be Exempted-Any per-
employed in the service of the United States upon
presentation to such local board at any time within ten
days after the fling of claim of discharge by in
respect of such person, Of affidavit signed by the
official of the Government of the United States having
direct supervision and control of the department.
mission, board bureau division, branch of the Gov
eminent of the United States in which such person is
employed stating that such person Is, In his opinion
necessary to the adequate and effective operation OF
such department commission board, bureau, division,
branch in the service of the United States and cannot
be replaced by another person without substantial ma
tera loss in the adequate and effective operation Of said
department, commission board, bureau division
branch in the service of the United States In the
of person employed in the legislative judicial branch
of the Government the affidavit may be signed by the
official under whom such person serves"
Clearly the above imposes responsibility upon every
Official In the Government whether In the executive legsla
tive Judicial branches who has In his office OF mill
tary age physically able to in the army may be
easy to write letter sign affidavit asking exemption
for subordmates just because it is annoying to fill their
places But it should not be forgotten that private
poyes the country expected to release to the army
those who be replaced and the regulations explicitly
provide that men even in the Government who
be substituted without substantial material oss shall not
be exempted. Undoubtedly the Government will to it
that such it has had In its employ will be able to
turn to their positions after the But the thing to be
borne In mind that the United States Government
employer of should not take for itself that which
asking other employers to give up There are to be sure
many indispensable the Government service-those
who cannot be replaced And the Government is too busy
about search of to do the work of employees
long trained In its service But is not these to whom
the regulations refer There hundreds of young
employed in lesser positions who be replaced without
much trouble Indeed England and France replaced many
of that class with women.
Officials bureau chiefs division heads-n fact all those
to whom will fall the duty of saying whether is needed
whether he cannot be replaced have patriotic
that they should take closely to heart They
also will the of the United States who
dnates. The principle is simple If young
better the United States by being sent to the front
alongside the hundreds of thousands who from all
parts of the country a similar errand of sacrifice he
ought to be exempted simply because he holds nsg
nfcant cerkship If young man, physically not robust
but quick of mind apt in his work and part, small it
may be- in the big machine of government better
the United States by being retained in his present position
there should be hestancy in filing for him claim for
exemption The viewpoint in other words should be not
personal convenience but the United States of America