The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-25
Gen. Martin Says They Are Not
Exempt From Service.
More Than 100 in State May
Be Called to COIOrs.
CITY AND COUNTY AFFECTED
All May Be Taken if Places Can
Be Filled.
Some States Have Laws Saving
Office Holders.

This is a sad day for public Off
Gals
Kansas city and county officials are
not exempt from the draft.
That was the startling announce
ment toGay from the office of Charles
l. Martin, adjutant general. Under a
construction placed on the war de-
partment orders, as applied to Kan
sas, county and city officials in this
state must respond to the draft just
as private citizens. 1t is believed that
more than 100 officials in Kansas
counties will be affected by the ruling.
Under the decision, there is every
probability that a number of county
offices may be vacated during the
next few months and new appointees
named by the governor or the local
boards of county commissioners. The
order of the war department exempts
all county or city officials whose posi-
lions cannot be filled within ten days.
Under the Kansas law provision is
made for filling these jobs. AS con-
sequence a number of county and city
JOB holders may be compelled to go
to war.
Are Not Exempt.
When the registration was taken all
persons between the ages of 81 and
81 years were listed. The exemption
class, tho, seemed to indicate a saving
clause for county and city officials.
1t was especially urged at county
officials would not be required to re-
spond to the draft call. A careful
reading of the exemption instructions,
tho. is claimed by the adjutant gem
erals office to indicate that county
officials as well as city officials within
the draft age, are subject to service.
1t is probable that not less than %,
county officials will be compelled to
answer the call In several counties
two or three places in the court house
are held by men within the draft age.
If a test is made and the ruling of
the adiutant generals office is up
held, all the men within the draft age
may be compelled to shoulder arms
and go to the front. All county anC
city offices can be filled by appoint
ment, it is urged
Some States Exempt Them.
When the ruling was made by the
war department it was offered as
saving clause to states in which no
was made for appointment of success
sors to city and county officials with
out a special election. The war de-
partment SkipS lightly over this mat
ter, though, by providing that exemp-
lions shall apply only in offices which
cannot be filled within ten days. In
Kansas a successor to a county or city
official can be appointed in ten min
utes-and there is usually a waiting
list of candidates.
Rulings sent from the adjutant
generals office today are emphatic in
their statement that public officials
are not exempt from service where
provision is made for appointment of
successors. A number of county Off
Gals had claimed exemptions under a
first reading of the exemption list. But
the adjutant generals office and the
war department have the last word
in the matter. And their decision
overrules the exemption claims.
Not only will the ruling apply to
100 or more county officials, but it
will affect city job holders in all sec
tons of the state.