Catoctin clarion., 1917-03-29
WAR CENSUS ORDERED.
Lists To Be Prepared At Once For Use
# Need Comes. Law An Old One.

the able-boded men of Maryland. 1t is
expressly provided by the State law that
no draft can be made until the Governor
has called for volunteers, and not until
after the call has failed to provide the
number of men needed. That provision
was lacking in the Act of 1908 which
gave the Governor the power of the draft
whenever it appeared necessary to him.
Defense League To Help.
The Defense League recently organized
in Frederick city is making a special ef-
fort to assist in the taking of this census.
At a recent meeting it was decided that
the most feasible method of accomplish
ing this work promptly was through the
Central Committees of the two political
parties in each election district. If each
committeeman goes to work, the matter
of canvassing the county will take but
one or two days. as in some cases there
are from 20 to 80 of these members in
district. The object is to complete the
work quickly as possible.
The law provides exemptions, but these
will not figure until after the census has
been taken. Whether you can claim ex-
emption or not, you will be requir-
ed to fill out the blank, if you are be-
tween the ages of ls and 45 years. Then,
if you come under an exemption clause,
you are given Is days to file your claim.
This claim, if you are resident of Bal
timore city. must be filed with the Clerk
of the Superior Court, and if resident
of a county, with the Clerk of the Circuit
Court in your county.
The notice of the taking of the census
and the exemptions follow:
Take Notice: You are hereby notified
that you have been this day enrolled as
liable for military service, under the Act
of the General Assembly of Maryland of
1916, Chapter 3ll, page 626. If you
claim exemption, you must within Is
days hereafter file written statement
of your reasons for such claim, under af-
fidavit, in the office of the Clerk of the
Superior Court of Baltimore City, and if
you are a resident of the county, then
you must file such statement in the office
of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of such
county.
1.-THE only cases in which you claim ex-
emption are those specified in the follow
ing provisions of the law:
"All able bodied male citizens and
able bodied males of foreign birth. who
have declared their intentions to become
citizens, who are more than lS and less
than As years of age, and who are resi-
dents of this State, shall constitute the
militia, subject to the following exemp-
tions: (a) persons exempted by the laws
of the United States; (b) persons exempt
ed by the laws of Maryland; (c) the men,
bers of any regularly organized fire or
police department in any city, village or
town; (D judges and clerks of courts of
record, registers of wills and deed, sheritfs
ministers of the gospel, practicing physic-
ians, superintendents, officers and assist
ants of hospitals, prisons and jails; persons
actually employed as teachers in any
public school, college or university; light
house keepers, conductors and engineers
of railways, seamen actually employed as
such; (e) idiots, lunatics, paupers, vaga-
bonds, confirmed drunkards, persons ad-
dicted to the use of narcotic drugs, and
persons convicted of Infamous crimes.
All such exempted persons. except those
enumerated in subdivisions (a) and (e),
shall be available for military duty in
case of war, insurrection, invasion or i'm
minent danger thereof"
A fine of $40 for each offense is provid-
ed by law for false certifcations or re-
fusals to answer the enrolment officer.