Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-20

Mindful that wholesale draft of highly
trained mechanics will cripple Industrial
plants engaged In war work, the war De-
partment today Instructed Philadelphia Dis
trict Appeal Board No. to begin work on
o batch of important industrial exemption
claims.
sit is apparent" said Walter willard.
\ chairman of the board, that the Govern
3 ment wants the status OF these men estab-
llshed Immediately. We Will go to work
upon these claims Immediately and will
probably dispose of them by tomorrow
night"
~, BOARD DOWN TO BUSINESS
Although the board got down to real
business today there will be no announce;
ments concerning the claims until Friday.
Every man exempted from service in the
new National Army will be given an exemp-
fjon button. The first batch of buttons
arrived today at the headquarters or local
Z draft board No. 10, Thrty-nnth street ana
a Lancaster avenue. The exemption button
Is less than an inch in diameter and made
of oxidized bronze. 1t Is adorned with two
circles Over the outer circle is the word
"Exempt" and under 1t the letters U. s. In
the inner circle Is the United States shield.
The District Appeal Board held its first
public session in the Federal Building today.
On Wednesday the members VIII attend
q conference In Harrisburg which has been
called by Governor Brumbaugh for the
purpose of having the various appeal boards
in the State adopt uniform rules governing
exemptions.
Mrs. N. ]. Fitzgerald. a negress. wife
OF James s. Fitzgerald. living at 2516
North Warnock street. was the first to
/. step toward the judges bench and file an
exemption affidavit Her husband worker
4 In the Midvale Steel plant, has been denied
exemption by Local Draft Board No. SO,
at the Park and Lehigh avenues police
station.
Mrs Fitzgerald claims she is dependent
upon her husband for support and that II
he is forced into the army she will suffer
hardshps. Her claim was held under ad-
visement.
'If anybody else has business with the
board please step forward" sad Walter
A Willard. the chairman
u A little woman dressed In pink and car
fying fourteen-month-ol boy, stepped
forward. She was Mrs. Adelaide Levitsky,
wife of Samuel Levitsky, a tailor living
at 2i30 North Thirty-second street. Mrs.
Levitsky, owing to the wrggl!ng of the
baby, had much difficulty presenting her
affidavit to Chief Clerk Bronte Greenwood.
"a This affidavit set forth that her husband
had applied for exemption before local draft
board No. e5, at Twenty-sixth and York
streetc, and that his claim. made upon the
ground that he is the sole support of his
wife and child. was denied. The board took
this case under advisement, too, and then
went into executive session to consider the
two claims filed personally by the woman
and scores of others which were received
IN the mail.
Not more than twenty persons were pres
ent when Chairman Willard called the
board to order He announced that Bronte
Greenwood, Philadelphia attorney, had
been chosen to act as chief clerk and then
read the rules that will govern the board s
sessions.
These sessions are to be held on Mon.
days. Wednesdays and Fridays. and when
the interest of the public demands, night
sessions will be held.
NO arguments are to be heard by the
board. although II will exercise the right
of questioning atlantis whenever 1t feels
uncertain ir regard to the evidence set
forth in the exemption affidavits
Each claim Is TO be taken up in the order
IN which 1t Is received by the board. and
more than four weeks, according to James
c. Mcdonald, the labor member. will he
necessary to clean the slate.
That the board appreciates its RESPONSE
bilities was reflected in a statement made
by James j. Ryan. I'VE appreciate what
these claims mean to the women" said
Ryan. "but IT must be remembered that our
frst duty is to aid the President In the
work OF organizing an army. Upon our de.
cisions will rest the future of many men
for We must decide whether they shall &c
into the army or remain at home.
we propose to move slowly and care
fully. but must not permit sentiment IN
get the better of our judgment All personal
interests must be subordinated to the in.
terests of the Government and as we are
the arbiters It can be seen that our task
Is not light one. We will be fair and
Impartial and endeavor to give every man
and woman a square deal"