The Tupelo journal., 1917-08-03
EXEMPTION BOARDS
GET INSTRUCTIONS
They are Given Warning of the
Seriousness of Their Task
Discard all Influences.

Washington, July 2S.-The grav-
,ity of the task which faces members
of local exemption boards is called
to their attention in solemn language
: in a communication sent broadcast
by the War Department and made
{ public today by Provost Marshal
General Crowder.
''The selected man offers his life,"
says Gen. Crowder. 'It will
strengthen you to remember that for
every exemption or discharge that is
made for individual convenience, or
to escape personal loss of money or
property, or for favor or affection,
some other man whose time would
not otherwise have come must incur
the risk of losing his life"
The boards are told they are not
courts to adjust differences between
two persons in controversy.
"You, acting for the government"
says the communication, ''are to in
vestigate each case in the interest of
the nation and never in the interest
of an individual.
Gen. Crowder closes with the dec
laration that the nation needs men
quickly, and the boards will receive
little praise and some blame.
"Your only reward" he says, ''must
be the knowledge that at great per-
sonal sacrifice you are rendering
your country an indispensable SER
vice in a matter of the utmost mo-
ment"
President Wilson tonight issued an
executive order directing government
officials to exercise "the greatest
care" in issuing exemption affidavits
to employees in the civil executive de-
partments, emphacizing the high
national Importance of carrying out
''the spirit of the selective service
act and Of securing its fullest effect
iveress by holding in military service
all drafted mem who are not abso-
Iutely indispensable" to department
work.
Should Give Few Discharges.
He said discharges should be re-
duced to minimum number consist
ent with the maintenance of vital
national interests during the emer-
gency of war"
at is earnestly hoped, moreover"
the order concludes, 'that, acting
in the same spirit as the federal de-
partmental officials, all citizens who
may be called upon, as employees, un-
der Section "A of the regulations, to
make affidavits for securing the dis
charge of persons deemed to be in
dispensable to national industrial in
terests during the emergency, will
exercise the same conscientious and
scrupulous caution, to the end that
there will appear to be no favored
exempted class among the citizens
called by law to the national de-
fense."
The War Department communica-
ton follows:
"You are entering upon difficult
task, the gravity of which is beyond
anything that can be said in the way
of discussion. You realize the sig
nifcance of what you are to do and
you know that responsibility heav-
ier perhaps than any you have ever
faced, is upon you.
"War demands individual sacrifice
90 to the common cause. No people
ever approached war with calmer
appreciation of that sacrifice or a
frmer resolve to bear it and to pre-
sent themselves ito be classified for
service in the place of which it shall
best serve the common good to call
them This calm determination
could not exist were it not for the
confidence of the nation in it's insti-
tutions. In this public confidence is
found the very spirit of the selective
service law.
Have Lines at Disposal.
uG IIOSC SdCIcO VI COuIl-
try, home and family are entrusted
for adjudication to local citizens and
officials, nominated by state govern
ors and appointed by the president.
The most equitable rules that could
be devised have been prescribed for
guidance, and the administration of
these rules and the sacrifice that is
offered by your neighbors is entrust-
ed to your hands.
"From every one is demanded
sacrifice. But there is one thought
to be always kept in your mind. The
selected man offers his life. There
is no greater giving than this; and
that thought should guide you al
wavs There NAV be few who will