The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-08-17


One OF the most difficult and thank
less positions citizens of the various
states have ever been called upon to
I'LL is that of serving on exemption
boards. The law governing the ma
chinery of the selective draft provides
for exemption boards to pass upon
draft who may ask TO be excused from
army service Now IL rests with the
boards to pass Judgment upon the val
idity of these claims, which must be
backed by evidence and aiiidavits.
The decision of the local board may
not be final, either in the matter of
acceptance or rejection. but their find
ings will go far toward deciding
case. Thus IL can be readily seen that
the membership of that board should
be made up of men of unquestioned
loyalty, men of known probity, who
will show no favoritism. men with
firmness and backbone who cannot
be swayed by sentiment. These men
must stand behind the government
in this hour of sore otress, at time
when defenders are required to save
the country from autocratio domina-
ton, and yet they must be fair and
Just In considering and passing upon
individual claims of true merit. The
duty Of these boards Is most severe
and trying one, and will tax the dis
erection and discrimination of the
members.
In congested districts. where II is
impossible for the members OF the
boards to have personal cognizance
of the merits of the claims set up by.
those asking to be excused from serv-
ing their country, boards will have
to depend largely upon the evidence
presented and the character OF those
who sign aflidavits for those seeking
exemptions. In the less thickly set
tied districts II is far easier for the
boards to pass upon the merits or
dement's of cases presented. as the
members of the boards have a wide
acquaintance In their district.
Regrettable though il is, many un-
worthy claims for exemptions have
been filed by those seeking to escape
doing mans duty. In every case
where proof is obtainable that drafted
men are endeavoring to dodge service
on slight pretext those slackers
should be included among the draft
ed without a moments hesitation on
the part of the exemption boards.
The trainers of the law provided for
certain legitimate excuses for escap-
ing service, but II was not intended
that the law should be so elastic as
to include every man who has not the
CUTS or inclination to stand by the
country in which he lives ard In
which he has earned living and ex-
poets to continue TO do so. This ex-
emption privilege has been shamefully
abused, and 1t is up TO the boards to
see that the physically fit conscripts
are not permitted TO hide themselves
behind skirts. or escape serving their
country in the present crisis on triv-
fal pretext Citizens should exercise
care in encouraging or signing ex-
emption aitidsvits, The man who
signs such an affidavit asking exemp-
ton for one drafted. knowing at the
time that the request is based upon
unworthy grounds. is disloyal to his
country. He should be heavily fined.
ar. better still, be made to enter the
army himself 10 fill the vacancy that
he Is lending his assistance in Great
ing. Those having relatives who have
voluntarily offered their services to
the government, who are willing 10
chance their lives that these would
be strikers might live in peace and
safety, enjoying the privileges and
blessings of a democracy, feel keenly
this prevailing disposition Of those
physically qualified TO shirk their
share Of great public duty. This
disposition to shirk aiding the coun-
try when the aid Of every man. and
woman is needed is neither fair nor
honorable, and exemption boards are
urged to firmly deny claims for ex-
emptions that are not based upon
meritorious grounds.