The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-06-21
NO SLACKERS HERE
100 PER CENT REGISTRATIONS IN
STATE ACCORDING TO
RETURNS.
HAPPENINGS OF THE STATE
What Is Going On Here and There
That Is OF Interest to the Read.
ers Throughout South Da-
kota and Vicinity.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Redfeld.-The first draft will I'M
doubtedly come from the ranks OF the
men who make no claim to exemption.
There are 25,5 Sal Of these men in South
Dakota, and counting all who are cut
out by physical examination or on &C
count of occupation it should leave a
total of at least 10, 900 from which to
pick the men to fill South Dakota's
quota. On the basis of a total draft
of $4,000 men and estimating South
Dakota's total population as 600, 900,
this state will have to furnish $3.50
men in the first draft. Coupled with
at least $500 who will be in the ma
tional guard and an estimate OF at
least 1900 others who have gone to
the regular army, the navy and the
marine corps. South Dakota will have
10000 men in service by the begin
ming of the new year.
The total registration returns which
aggregate 5S,014, or a total OF about
1000 less than the val departments
estimate. in view of the fact that there
has been but a very slight increase in
the population since the last state Gen.
sus, taken in 1915. the figures would
point to practically a 100 per cent reg
istration. as the war department
roughly estimated hat the registra.
ton would reach 10 per cent of the
total %poulation, and South Dakota
showed 5S2,765 in 1915. In 1915 there
were 129. 724 persons of military age
in South Dakota. i. e., from Is to As
years. On this basis the registration
in South Dakota would have only been
approximately $4,000, but as the num-
Der in each age class is less with each
advance in years allowance of 10000
is made in covering the 81 to 81 age
class.
OF the entire total of 58,014 register
ing, there was a total Of 20, 231 who in.
dictated exemptions of one sort or an
other and 1854 who did not seek in
any way to avoid the military service.
This makes the percentage not claim
ing exemption for South Dakota be-
tween a. and As, which is an extreme
ly good showing, according to newspa-
per reports of the registration in some
eastern states. The highest percent.
age not claiming exemption occurs in
Jones county. where &c per cent were
willing to be drafted and to go into
the trenches. In this respect the west
ern counties as a whole showed a big
ger percentage than their eastern
neighbors. This is due largely to the
comparatively unsettled condition of
the counties and also to the fact that a
larger percentage of the population is
of the ages included in the act of May
Is. Thus Corson county, with a total
population of only 1.104 in 1915, reg.
istered a total of sos between the ages
OF 81 and 81 in 1917. This would indi-
cate an enormous increase in popula-
ton within the past two years, but a
fair proportion OF this seeming in.
crease is explained by the fact that a
large part Of the population are young
homesteaders. Hutchinson county
shows the smallest percentage of per.
sons not claiming exemptions, and this
is easily explained, as large Mennon.
lite settlements exist in this section
and. as their religion does not allow
them to make war, the people should
be classed as conscientious object.
ors."
The figures available show that
there are 2,606 aliens within the state
Of the conscript age and 4s4 alien enc
mics. On the basis of 10 per cent, this
means 4.840 alien enemies of all ages
within the state.
Custer county, with nine legislative,
judicial or executive officers between
the prescribed ages. leads the list in
this respect. In the matter OF total
disability Minnehaha leads, with So
men claiming 1t as a ground for ex.
emption; however, comparatively, Lin
coin is far ahead. with less than half
the total registration 1t boasts, or
rather ~confesses to, a total of AZ
claiming total disability. Lake county.
with nearly as big a registration,
shows up with an entire personnel OF
perfect specimens, as no one claims
this as a ground for escape from sery-
fee.
The claims for exemptions on &C.
count OF dependents Is probably far
IN excess OF the number who will be
allowed such exemptions in all coun-
ties. However. in this respect Lin.
coin is again far in the lead. With
$50 seeking exemption In that county,
47s give dependents" as the cause.
Alien enemies seem to be pretty well
scattered throughout the state. Every
county has one or more. but Brown
with Il leads. with Minnehaha follow.