The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-08-09
PHYSICAL TESTS
Will BE FINISHED
This AFTERNOON
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG
MEN EXAMINED PASS ON
i HEALTH REQUIREMENTS.
MANY WILL CLAIM EXEMPTION
LITTLE TEAPOT TEMPEST IN
MELROSE GIVEN ERRONEOUS
PUBLICITY.

The examining board for Western
sStearns county have been very busy
the first three days of this week CIV
ing the prospective members of
Uncle Sans selective army the
physical "once over" Drs. Goehrs
and Hilbert of Melrose and A. F.
Moynihan of Sank Centre, have been
in charge lof this work, save for one
half day when DR.. Slocum of Bel
grade assisted them.
There were 400 summoned to ap-
pear REPRESENTATION from which it
is hoped to select the 1853 men ap-
portioned to Western Stearns county.
The board have labored diligently
and up to Wednesday evening $50 of
the 400 have been examined. They
will finish this part of the program
some time today, Thursday.
According to the physicians fully
IS per cent of the young men will
pass the physical test. They are
!, amazed at the splendid showing; sew
~ssssal have been rejected on account of
ruptures, bad eyes, teeth and feet.
In fact out of the entire number ex-
amined to date, one has been rejected
because of an incurable malady. An
other very commendable condition up
on which the physicians made favor
able comment was the splendid moral
character of the potential soldiers.
Not one of the entire bunch has pres
ented himself for examination with
the least bit of alcoholic stimulants On
board. They have taken their ex-
animation in a good natured manner
and while many of them will ask for
exemption on various grounds, never
theless they are typical Of the best
citizenry Of the state and if they are
called to the colors will serve their
country with distinct credit.
+
Greatly exaggerated and misleading
stories have appeared in the St. Cloud
and Twin City papers over a little in
cident which occurred in Melrose
Monday afternoon. The facts are
about as follows: A leading citizen
of the county happened OF be in Mel
rose on Monday; hearing man who
had been summoned for examination
making the statement that an organ
lied effort should be made to resist
the draft. this splendid American
took him to task and showed him that
such statments only spelled trouble
and placed him in the same category
with the half breeds and Indians of
Oklahoma. Later some other young
men asked this gentleman if they
could not write their congressman
and urge him to vote to repeal the
draft bill, and they were informed
that thew were entirely within their
rights in making request OF this
character. The argument was rot
heated. but a considerable crow had
gathered because those that knew the
Sank Centre gentleman realized that
his advice would be sound an Am
erican.
In some localities the placinr OF
peace officer star on some lndiv'duaIs
causes them to swell up and oTe. est
mate their duties and privileges
During the progress of the tax above
referred to Mr.. Officer tapped tee
Sank Centre man on the shoulder arc
told him to keep quiet or he v':.ld he
placed under arrest. 1t was reported
that the officer was then and there
given one of the neatest verbal cast
cations ever witnessed in Me]rose. and
that a secret service man finally took,
the police officer away. There was
no public demonstration participated
in by any number Of the citizens OF
Melrose either for or against the
draft. At different times number OF
the BOYS called for examination have
formed in lines and marched up and
down the streets. The sensational
mart of the story appearing in the
Twin City papers undoubtedly origin
ated in the mind of some string fiend
newsgather located in St. Cloud, writ
ing under Melrose date, caring more
for the few cents he woulo get ouf
of the story than for the facts. Mel
rose is not hot bed of arti-draft
sentiment, neither is she burning VI
with fervor to lick the k:iiscr. Ire
expressed sentiment is normal, except
in isolated instances.
- "a.
The board for Western Stearns viii
take up the claims for exemption as
soon as the physical examinations are
completed. The Herald understands
that fully Is per cent are claiming
exemption On one ground or another.
One physically fit seeking exemption,