The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-02
LARGE percentage
Of THOSE EXAMINED
CLAIM EXEMPTION

The wheels of the great machine
which is to separate the wheat from
the chaff in the initial step OF form
Ing the first draft army were set to
grinding in Richmond yesterday in
the offices of the exemption board OF
division No. S, located at Twenty-sec-
ond and Broad streets, In the pre-
vocational school building.
One hundred and eight men were
notified to present themselves for ex-
animation at stated hours yesterday.
or this number. 95 appeared. the re-
naming thirteen being divided as FOL
lows: One man is in the navy: one
Is dead; two were to appear before
the exemption boards of other cities,
and the remainder were absent O1
the IS men who reported. 80 faileo
to pass the rigid physical examina-
ton.
Work Goes on To-day.
Ono hundred and eight men Will
be examined today and los tomor :
row, which will complete this branch
Of the work for division No. for
the present. Divisions and Will
examine their first squad of men to-
day. while divisions I and Will take
up their work on Friday.
OF the men who were found to be
physically At. the number OF claims
filed fo- exemption reached ar ap-
palling percentage. GeorGs w. Rog-
ers. chairman Of the board, announced
that fully 80 per cent of the men
who passed the physical test filed
claims for exemption. The majority
gave dependent relatives as their
grounds and about rs per cent OF the
total claimed wives dependent on
them for support. The percentage of
married men found in one division in
one days work is not to be taken
az indicative of the percentage of
married men subject to first call
throughout the country, for II this
was the case. either the plan for ex
empting married men on the first call
would have to be abandoned or the
provost marshal would have to issue
orders for the calling out of fully
twice the original number planned.
not a single incident of an unpleasant
nature being reported. 1t will not be
known until today or tomorrow. when
the board has completed the task of
examining the first quota of men.
whether or not the division has per-
ceptibly failed to deliver an average
percentage of the men called.
Rejected to BE ReExnmined.
All men who were rejected yester-
be required to report to the board
Saturday morning for an additional
examination. All men are required
to file claim within seven days OF the
date upon their notification. not
within seven days OF the days upon
which they are examined.
The government has provided for
any probable evasions OF the law by
proclaiming 1t a misdeanor for any
IN 81 fajsa1u In N akfnR
claim. or for any party to perjure
themselves in his behalf
Must Furnish Proof.
Married men viii be required TO
furnish absolute proof that they are
the sole support OF their wives. a
ris>!d examination viii be made OF all
claims OF those married since July
20 II. in the opinion. of the board.
the subject has acquired wife simply
ne means OF evading the draft. the
man VIII he given no consideration.
I'm Emphatic Statement.
Members OF the exem ption board OF
Division No 3 alarmed AT the ru
nors OF wholesale claims OF exemp
ton. last night made the following
statement:
These numerous claims. some OF
which are reported to be trivial and
disingenous. indicate a disinclination
TO perform the service the manhood
of the country Is called on TO per
Richmond must make it's 3ust contri-
form aud TO which the manhood or
cEtion- W.
so far as this board Is concerned
II desires the public and registrants
10 understand that every claim OF ex-
emption that is made VIII be sub
jected to most rigid scrutiny and that
no exemptions will be granted unless
the requirements OF the selective draft
law are complied with in every re-
spect. The president and the pro-
vost marshal-generai both have
stressed the duty of the local boards
In this particular and hsve called at
tention to the fact that every i'm
proper exemption means that other
men will be called to the colors in ad-
vance OF their turn This board will