The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-06
This Is Urged Upon Boards by
War Department.
1t Is Expected To Reduce Ex-
emptiOns to Minimum.
MAKE DODGERS CAUTIOUS
Those Who Have Lame Ex-
cuses viii Be known.
Appeal Boards Are i'm Session
Again Today.

Extensive publicity will surround
exemption claims by Kansas con-
scripts. Instructions sent to Governor
Capper today by the war department
urged publicity of names and claims
of all persons seeking exemption from
army service.
1t is probable that Immediate in
structions will be issued to all exernp-
ton boards. Under these Instructions
the county and district boards will be
advised to release for publication the
names of all persons who seek exemp-
ton The exemption claims will also
be made public.
Thru the publicity campaign. the
draft boards will seek to reduce ex-
emption claims to a minimum Each
exemption board will be directed to
give TO the newspapers list of all
persons who claim exemption or per-
sons for whom relatives or friends
claim exemptions. The cause Of ex-
emption will be made pubic and per-
sons in the county or district will have
full knowledge of the claims of the
conscript.
Plans Is Approved.
The plan was presented to the joint
appeal board in session in Topeka to-
day Members of the two state boards
approved the plan and 1t is probable
that immediate steps will be taken to
set the publicity campaign in action.
If John Jones works tn. ee months
on a farm and claims exemption as an
agriculturist, everyone IN the dis
trict will know it. If Thomas Smith
with rich parents and wealthy par
ents-in-law, claims an exemption be-
cause of dependents, he advertises his
claim to the world. Thru the system
every man, woman and child in the
county or district becomes the keeper
of the merits of claims of conscripts.
Much information which might not
otherwise come to the exemption
board will be gathered thru the, plan
to publish all names and claims. That
is not all. The conscript himself may
think twice before claiming an exemp-
ton which he fears would fail if his
plea were made public and all avail
able evidence were presented to the
local boards.
In the small counties members of
the exemption boards know first hand
the justice of the claims of almost
every man who will appear for exam
ination. In the larger counties or the
cities of the state. conditions are diff
ferent. And in the large towns and
cities the daily press will print the
names and claims of men subject to
draft. These names and claims will
be printed the same day they are pre-
scented, if the local boards follow the
instructions.
Appeal Boards Meet.
Members of the First and Second
district appeal boards are in Topeka
today working out general plans for
emptions- With the aid of publicity.
there is a feeling that their work VIII
be minimized. The chance for injus-
tice in the matter of exemptions is in
the large towns, members declared.
I'm our county we know every man
who will be called for examination"
said Sheriff HEINZ, of Chautauqua
county who appeared before the state
appeal board. I'VE have 98T men
from whom we will select 10 men. II
a man claims an exemption in our
county because of a dependent or be-
cause of an industrial activity. we
know right away whether 1t is a good
claim or a bad one"
Plans for the exemption work by the
appeal board are being worked out
this afternoon by special committee
composed of Senator Francis c. Price.
Ashland; Hugh p. Farrelly, Chanute.
and Capt. Montgomery of the adtutant
generals office. Members declared
during the noon recess that they
would hesitate to make general exepp-
ton rules, but would seek to base each
exemption claim on individual merit
To Hear Appeals Soon.
The appeal board will probably con-
clude it's preliminary work late today
and will be ready to hear appeals in a
few days. Only in extreme cases or
where desired information is lacking
will the board permit supplemental
reports or the appearance of witnesses,
it was indicated. Such supplemental
testimony will be received only when
requested by the appeal board.
Members of the state board de-
clared that most of the claims for ex-
emption had come from the rural dis
tricts. These claims were made
largely by parents of boys on farms
In the main. it was stated the boys
on the farms are willing to accept the
responsibility of army service with -he
boys in town.