New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-26
SERVICE AN HONOR SAYS
HEAD OF NEW MEXICO
EXEMPTION BOARD

TOT the several counties Ol NcW MCN-
leo is made clear in the following
letter to the Ration Publishing COM
pany, at Ration, Colfax county, writ
ten by Charles Springer, chairman
of the Federal Exemption board for
the Northern District Of New Mex
ico:
Replying to your favor of the 10th
instant regarding the quota of men
10 be furnished by Coifax County
under the Selective Draft Law, will
state that the apportionment was
not made upon the number of men
registered in each county, but upon
its population. Under the law each
state is required to furnish its pro-
p"ortionate number of men for the
entire army, the regular army, the
national guard and the new national
army in proportion to the popula-
ton of the state, and in apportion-
ing the quotas for the state and for
the counties of men to be furnished
for the first call under the Selective
Draft law, the state and each county
were credited with the number of
men enlisted in the regular army and
in the national guard. In determin-
ing the population of the different
counties the officials obtained their
information from the census report,
the election returns, the registration
lists, and such other information as
they could obtain, and I feel sure
that the quota apportioned to Colfax
County is fair and equitable in pro-
portion to its population.
Other Counties Enlisted
The reason it appears that Colfax
County is required to furnish more
men than its proper quota in pro-
portion to its population is that sew
eral of the counties of the state had
furnished more soldiers by enlist
mcnt in proportion to population
than Colfax County had. In fact,
some Of the counties had furnished
more men by voluntary enlistment
than their entire quota would amount
to for all of the military organiza-
tons. This resulted in causing some
OF the other counties to furnish a
number of men by the selec-
tive draft.
An Honor, Not Burden
| cannot understand why there
should be any question about the
number of men the county should
furnish as its quota of the national
or any complaint or h~esitancy,
because it appears from someone's
that the county is required
to furnished a few more than its
proper proportion. The people of
the county should be proud Of the
fact that they are permitted to fur
nish a few more in proportion than
counties, and | am glad to note
there is proof that the people
Of Colfax County are proud to fur
nish more men, in the fact that so
many have been recently furnished
by voluntary enlistment. | am also
glad to be able to state that the
which was apparently prev
alent in sOme parts of the country
when the first call was made under
The draft law, that the selecting of
1 man for military service was i'm
a burden upon him and his
is rapidly giving way to the
proper feeling that such selection is
he granting of a privilege of which
man and his family should be proud
instead of imposing a burden.
USED Oniy 1T INeeoeo
Answering your inquiry about the
-eason for summoning an additional
en- per cent OF the original quota,
will state that the men SO summon
ID will be used if necessary to take
he places of men who may be re-
ected, and it is possible that they
md others whose cases have been
upon by the local and dis
riot Boards and who have been held
or service, will be used to make up
he county's quota for the next draft.
Should Enlist Yet
The question of calling another
lraft and additional drafts there
Ifter depends largely upon the spirit
md cooperation among those of us
Who are either too young or too old
have the privilege of serving in
he army in the performance of our
luties to back up the men who go
to battle and furnish them the
lceded supplies and equipment. The
vars of today are not to be won by
alone, but by whole nations
II arms and it is up to every citi-
en- to perform his duty as a part of
he organized forces of this nation.
f every one does that and if we
promptly furnish the money and sup
,lies necessary to carry on the war
md to properly equip and protect
,ur soldiers. it will lessen the mum
yer of men we will send to the front