The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-06
Appeal Board Turns Down Re-
ligiOus Exemption Plea.
One Boy Filed Papers To Please
Nervous Mother.
TURN DOWN A.HERNIA PLEA
SOn-in-Law of Wealthy Banker
z Is Exempted.
Husband, Drafted, Returns to
Deserted Wife.

Merely because a man belongs to
church and doesn't believe in fighting
is not an excuse for exemption from
army service. Otherwise. the district
appeal board pointed out today, the
national army would not get beyond
the church door. Two claims for re-
ligious exemptions were promptly
rejected today in opinions by Hugh p.
Farrelly of the district board.
An manner of exemption cases
were reviewed today. A banker
sought exemption and withdrew his
claim. A mothers only son appealed
for relief and sent word to the board
that he wanted to go to war and
claimed exemption only at the solicit
tation of his parent. A father asked
tne board not to consider his sons
claim that he should stay at home to
support dependent parents man,
long sought by the state on a charge
of wife deSertion, returned to the
family fireside after he had been
called for service and sought exemp-
tom because of his duty to his wife.
A son who helped his mother spend
her pension check claimed home OBJ
legations. A banker was exempted.
just to Please Mother.
Perhaps the most unusual case be-
fore. the district really didn't reach
the BOARD al all. A young man from
Usage county appeared before w. H.
Kemper. custodian for the board.
Here are my exemption claims
he said.
I They were the most formal, con-
sentative statements and gave little if
any Information.
II you want to stay at home you
Z should give more information"
Kernper kindly advised the young
man.
But l don't want to stay at home.
/ want to go. l don't care what the
board does with these papers l filed
them only to please mother"
Samuel Rudolph of Atchlson, fail
ed to win an exemption altho he af-
firmed he is a member of the Interna-
tional Bible Students association.
supporting affirmation by VILLA m W.
HUI, pastor of the Church Of the
First Born, failed to aid Rudolph. The
board knew nothing of the creed of
the Church of the First Born and no
Information was provided.
Father Objects to Claim.
Albert Robbins of Lyon county
wanted to stay at home because he
is a member of the religious society
of Friends. In opinions by Farrelly,
it was stated that the board could not
+ excuse men from service because they
belonged to church, when thousands
I of men just as devout and worthy are
required to go.
county sought exemption because OF
dependent parents. Carlson's father
wrote to the board stating that the
claim was filed without his consent.
He asked that his son be given tenn
porary exemption to arrange business
affairs and sent to the front Carlson
was exempted until December l.
Walter John Stevens of Nemaha
claimed exemption because of a de-
pendent wife. Records showed Stew
ems had deserted his wife for a period
of ten months and escaped arrest
only because he could not be found.
When called to service, Stevens in
duced his wife to live with him and
he sought exemption because of his
home responsibilities.
Exempt Labette Banker.
Thomas Hogan, a Labette county
banker, sought exemption because of
a dependent family. Today Hogan
withdrew his claim.
Harry E. Purdy of Lyon county
pleaded a dependent mother. Infor-
nation by the local board was to the
effect that Purdy was helping his
mother spend her pension check and
should go to the front.
Edwin Rice Phelps, Leavenworth
banker, was exempted on a showing of
a wife and two children. His father
in-law affirmed he could not support
Mrs. Phelps and the children without
Inconvenience.
Everett H. Duncan of Usage coun-
~ claimed webbed feet as a physical
exemption, but was overruled. A rup-
ture was not regarded by the board
as proper cause for exemption in re-
viewing the case of Willie Leblanc
of Pottawatomie county.