Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-19
DRAFT APPEAL HITS
THOUSANDS0F MEN
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. August 1S.-Exemption of
policemen. firemen and medical and
dental students from the operations of
the selective draft law was urged on
President Wilson today In resolutions
adopted at a meeting of chairmen of
the district appeal boards of the state
of New York. Charles Z. Hughes, who
presided, was instructed to explain the
action to Gov. Whitman. through whom
the request TO the President was made
The resolution concerning policemen
and fremen asked the President to
amend the draft rules so as TO exclude
all such men in the cities, and to per-
NIT local and district boards to reopen
the case of any policeman or fireman
already passed on.
In his letter to Gov. Whitman. Mr..
Hughes directed attention to the fact
that there are 100 p Iicemen in New
York city and of this number between
5000 and $500 are subject to draft. In
addition the city is employing I200i
policemen in guarding public utilities
1t cannot, Mr.. Hughes showed. employ
men of mature years, since only men
between the ages of twenty-one and
twenty-nine are eligible to the force
Concerning firemen. Mr.. Hughes in his
letter quoted the fire commissioner as
saying that of 1926 firemen, I,462 were
of draft age. and that at least three
years are required to train fireman.
So great are the demands on the depart
ment because of the increasing manu-
facture of war munitions in New York
and the shipment of military supplies
abroad that, If any considerable num-
Der of firemen We're drafted, some COM
panies. Mr.. Hughes said, would either
have to be discontinued or manned by
inexperienced men.
The resolution dealing with medical and
dental students asked the President to
detail all medical and dental students
and internes in hospitals after they have
hospitals to continue their preparatory
course until called for service"
Explains Resolution.
In explaining the resolution to Gov.
Whitman Mr.. Hughes quoted Mr.. s. s.
Coldwater of the New York city district
board OF appeals as saying that fourteen
years ago there were 27.6I5 medical stu
dents in this country, while last year there
were only 1871. About 1000 internes
while the available supply before the war
was only 5000. Hospital staffs also have
suffered heavl'N by men entering the Medi-
cal Reser.-e ps. Thirty per cent of the
to appear before local draft boards before
August 10, and indications are that 20
per cent additional will be brought into
the service under the second call.
Mr.. Hughes quoted the central medi-
cal war committee of London as hon
Ing that the lack of doctors in Great
Britain could be made up in the SUNNY
Of doctors from the United States ana
added:
1.-The present prospect Is that we shall
neither be able to assist Great Britain
nor have an adequate supply for our
own needs"
What applied to medical students and
internes in hospitals. wrote Mr.. Hughes.
also applied to dental students.
The committee also authorized stand.
ard forms for applicants claiming dis
charge because they were engaged in
necessary industries. including agri-
culture. Owing to the wide diversity Of
those industries the government made
no such provision. The form adopted
the boards may have such information
- fh11 maI Asem neeeagaxR