The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-07-19
DRAFT NAY COME THURSDAY
Exemption Boards In Kenosha and
Other Local Communities Will Be
Limited in Their Power to Grant
Exemptions to the Drafted Men.

With drawing of lots for the selec-
tive draft army awaiting only the com
i pletion Of exemption machinery IN a
few scattered sections of the country,
officials in Washington are anxious that
registrants take every opportunity be-
tween now and the day of drawing to
inform themselves thoroughly regard
ing exemption regulations, so as to re-
| duce to minimum the confusion to be
cleared up afte- designations are made.
To this end attention was directed
on Tuesday to various sections Of the
regulations over which questions have
arisen, and it was suggested that local
boards and the press cooperate during
the week remaining before lots are
1 drawn to insure that the registered
men know just how to perform their
part in the great task of examination
and exemption.
So that easier access may be had to
the lists of registration numbers, in the
hands of local boards, Provost Marshal
), General Crowder telegraphed the gov
errors of all states asking that instead
of posting lists at the board Offices,
they be placed Gin some safe central
Office, such as police headquarters.
May Draft Thursday.
Only eleven states have not reported
their organizations complete, and in
many of these only a few district
boards had not finished numbering reg
istration cards. The great majority of
districts throughout the country are
ready for the drawing, and when the
governors Of the missing states tele-
graph that all the boards in their juris-
diction have filed their lists the draw
ing date will be set. Officials think it
may be as early as Thursday but many
things may interfere to postpone the
drawing.
Officials are anxious that local boards
make it clear that no question of ex-
emption of any registered man for any
other cause than physical disability or
| dependent relatives can be taken up
before the local boards. The whole
matter of industrial exemptions is left
| to the superior boards, one of which
has been created in each federal judi
cial district. No individual case, where
exemption is desired because the regis
trant is engaged in an industry CLASH
| fed as vital to the conduct of the war,
will be taken up until that individual
| has been called for examination by his
| local. board, found to be fit for military
duty, and certified to the superior
| board. After that, application to the
superior board for exemption on other
grounds will be admissible. The regis
trant or his employer may file neces-
sary affdavits with the superior board
seeking exemption, and the case will
be heard promptly
Two Exemption Boards.
The government has sent to the Ke-
nosha local board complete sets of
blanks to cover appeals, transfers, and
any other matters in connection with
the process. Registrars may examine
these at the quarters of the local board
at the mayor S Office or at the Office Of
Secretary A. r. Davies, but every eff
| fort has been made to prevent the
fling of afidavits or other documents
that do not apply to case actually
under consideration.
Probably the point in the whole pro-
cess which has led to the greatest mis-
understanding and confusion is the
system by which industrial exemption
is to be granted. Many persons have
regarded it as certain that men in mu-
nitions making or other strictly war
industries would be exempted as a
class. That is not the fact. What is
to govern the process is the importance
of the individual in such an industry.
| Ii another man could take his place
without prejudice to the work of the
| plant he will not be granted military
exemption.
To make this policy effective, the
superior and not the local boards were
assigned the task Of saying whether or
not a man should be retained at his
desk or his bench.
| The bulk Of exemptions viii be for
physical unftness and on account of
dependents, and consideration of these
causes will keep the local board fully
occupied, leaving to thu more deliber-
ate superior boards the mtire handling
of the much more ver lg questions of
industrial exemption