The Clio messenger., 1917-07-27
Americas Great National Army
Is Drafted, 1,374,O00 Men
Being Called.
HALF THAT NUMBER NEEDED
War Preparation Progresses Despite
Many Rows and Schemes to Ham,
per Government - Chancellor
MichaeIis Sides With the
Junkers-Crown Prince
Beaten at Verdun.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Americas war lottery, to determine
the men who shall make up the Ma
| tional army, was held in Washington
on Friday, July 20. The whole pro-
ceeding, as devised by Provost Marshal
General Crowder and his aids, was cal
culated to make the draft absolutely
fair and to give the young millionaire
and the young laborer equal chances
to serve their country, provided they
| are physically and mentally fit. All
the names of the nearly ten million
registrants were drawn, the element of
chance determining the order in which
they shall be called before the exam
lining boards i'm the 4,557 examining
districts. Each local board has been
informed of the number of men it must
furnish to make up its quota of the
6S7 900 men needed on the first call,
and has been told to call 200 per cent
of the quota for examination, to pro-
vide for exemptions, In the order de-
terinined by the draft.
Northern senator's and representa-
tives have been making strong pro-
tests against the population estimates
made by the census bureau for the pur-
pose Of determining the quotas for the
draft. The South, it Is asserted, has
been unduly favored. The war depart
ment has admitted that the quotas for
the draft were fixed in disregard of
the provisions Of the draft law.
Progress and Rows in Washington.
An immense work of preparation is
being carried on at Washington by the
scores of experts in business and tech
nical lines who are aiding the govern
ment and there Is no doubt that all will
come out right eventually. Mean
while there are many annoying dis
putes and disagreements, perhaps un-
avOidable. The row between Chair
man Denman and General Goethals as
to the building of merchant marine
reached the point where the interven-
tion of President Wilson seemed nec-
essary. The manner in which con-
tracts are being let for the government
through the operation of the advisory
committees of the council Of national
defense have been severely criticized
cause these committeeman often are
interested in great business concerns
that are being called on to furnish sup
plies to the government, they are ac-
cused Of seeking their own prmofit.
In most cases such charges are mani
festly unjust. While the senator's were
carrying on their interminable discus
sion of the food bill, violent attack
was made on Mr.. Hoover by Senator
Reed, who said Hoover had been gam
bling in food and clothing as chairman
Of the American commission for relief
in Belgium. The swift denials of
Hoovers associates and friends really
were unnecessary.
The food control bill, as finally ar
ranged in the senate, contained the
compromise amendments eliminating
from the operation Of the measure cot
ton, steel, hides, lumber and all other
articles except food, feed and fuel and
creating a board OF food administra-
tion consisting of three men. The
first Of these amendments is in ac-
cord with the wishes of the admins
tration, and the second is not displeas-
ing to IL, for Hoover will be made
chairman Of the board. He and his
associates in the food conservation
campaign are not depending too much
on the actions of congress.
The federal trade commission began
its inquiry into the costs Of produc-
ing and marketing fbod commodities,
starting with the Chicago packing in
dustry. The investigation is to spread