Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-11
More Than Nine Million Men
Will Be Classified by
Revised Scheme.
WILSON ISSUES FOREWORD
Every Registrant Goes Into
Service for Which He Is
Fitted Best.

WASHINGTON, Nov. l0.-Presi-
dent WILSON, formally put the new ma
chinery for the carrying out of the
selecuve draft bill into operation to-
night with the publication of the
forew ord he has written to the regu-
lations under which the second call
will he made. The regulations them
selves and the questionnaires, which
more than nine million registrants
will lie required to fill QUE, are being
forwarded to local boards but have
not yet been made public.
Next Call in February.
War department officials estimate
that the whole process can be COM
pleted within sixty days This means
that no second call Will be made upon
the draft forces before the middle of
next February. as the period of class
ification Will not BEGIN until Decem-
Der s..
The president described the new
plan of dividing all registered men not
already modified into five classes,
subject to military service by classes.
as being intended TO produce "a more
perfect organization of our man
power"
THE selective principle must be
carried to its logical conclusion" the
president said, and he added that
there must be made a complete IN
ventory OF the qualifications of each
registrant IL order to determine the
place in the military, industrial or
agricultural ranks of the nation In
which his experience and training can
best be made to serve the common
good.'
Ten Million Rcgistrants.
The inquiry projected in the ques-
tionnaire will go. deep into the qualifi-
cations of each of nearly ten million
men. The success of the plan and
its completion within the estimated
time rests absolutely upon whole
hearted support given by the people,
especially by the doctors and lawyers
of each community and the president
calls upon them FOR that unstinted aid.
The presidents forewordl follows:
"The task of selecting aud moblliZ-
ing the first contingent OF the national
army Is nearing completion. The ex
, petition and accuracy of Its accom-
plishment were q most gratifying
demonstration of the efficiency CT our
democratic institutions. The swift-
ness with which the machinery for its
execution had to be assembled. how
ever left room for adjustment and
improvement. New regulations put
ting these Improvements into effect
are, therefore, being published today.
There Is no change in the essential
obligation OF men subject to selec-
ton. The first draft must stand un-
affected by the provisions of the new
regulations. They can be given no
retroactive effect.
Inventory to BE COmplctc.
"The time has come for a more per-
feet orga nization of our man power.
The seiective principle must be car
ried to its logical conclusion. We
must make complete inventory Of
the qualifications of all registrants
In order to determine as to each man
not already selected for duty with the
colors.
"It Is of. great Importance both to
our military and to our economic In
terests that the classification be car
ried swiftly and accurately to con-
| clusion. An estimate of the time
necessary for the work leads to the
conclusion that 1t can be accom-
plished in sixty days. but only If this
great marshalling of our resources OF
men Is regarded by all as a national
war undertaking of such significance
as 10 challenge the attention and conf
peI the assistance of every American.
Il call upon all citizens to assist
| local and district boards by proffer-
| Ing such service and such material
J convenience as they can offer and by
/ appearing before the boards, either
upon summons or upon their own inl-
! tiatve, to give such Information as
, will be useful in classifying regis
| trants. l urge men of the legal pro-
| fession to offer themselves as asso-
ciate members of the legal advisory
boards to be provided in each COM
munty for the purpose of advising
registrants of their rights and obli-
| cations and of assisting them in the
| preparation of their answers to thu
questions which all men subject to
the draft are required TO sumbit. |
ask the doctors of the country to
identify themselves with the medical
| aGy lory boards which are to be
| constituted In the various districts
thruout the United States for the pur-
pose of making "A systematic physical
examination of the registrants.
Police Must Hunt Slackers.
at is important also that police
officials OF every grade and class
should be informed of their duty
| under the selective service law and
regulations to search for persons who
do not respond llomptly and to serve
| the summons of local and district
boards. Newspapers can be of very
great assistance in giving wide pub
| licity to the requirements of the law
and regulations and to the numbers
| and names of those who are called to
present themselves to their local
boards from day to day. Finally, l
ask that during the time hereafter
to be specified as marking the sixty.
, day period of the classification. all
citizens give attention to the task in
hand in order that the process may
! proceed to a conclusion with swift
ness and yet with even and consid-
L N i,iciion 70 a IL y