Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-08-26
President Issues Order Clear
ing Up misunderstanding in
Some Exemption Boards of
Country,
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
LIMITS MOBILIZATION
Bulk of National Army From
Each State Are to Be Con-
siderabIy Delayed in Reach
ing CantonmentS.

Washington, Aug. 25.--At the d.
rect suggestion of President Wilson,
Provost Marshal General Crowder
telegraphed to all governors tonight a
supplemental explanation of regula-
tons governing the status of married
men under the selective service law.
No change in regulations is made;
and the purpose of the new statement
is tc clear up MISUNDERSTANDING
which have arisen in what General
Crowder describes as "a few in
stances"
In letter to Secretary Baker, quot
ed by General Crowder, President Will
son states his opinion that the regula-
ton directing local boards Ito estab-
lish the fact of dependents in addition
to the fact of marriage ought not to
be abrogated." This leaves the regu-
fdTions as they are and the supple
mental statement is designed merely
to make the application of the rules
uniform among all boards
d. Js,iffsx.tton I..aHsef.. a
While the statement regarding mar
ried men was in preparation. new
the mobilization arrangements previ-
ously made. Congestion of rail traf-
fic and the necessity of making bet
ter provision for the reception of the
men at the cantonments directed the
changes. Under the new orders, 5 per
cent of the white men, preferably
those with military experience, from
each local area. will be started for
ward to the camps September s. in
stead of 80 per cent They will go
in five daily detachments of equal size
form skeleton company organizations
and set up going concern into which
the remainder of the total quota can
be absorbed without confusion as it
reaches the cantonments.
September 10 Is Next Date.
The next 40 per cent of the quota
will go forward September 19, when
the second 80 per cent originally was
scheduled to go a second 40 per cent
will go forward October 3, instead OF
the 80 per cent and the remaining l5
per cent will be called up as soon
thereafter as practicable.
Local boards are directed to disre-
gard order of liability Of members to
some extent in selecting the first S
per cent as men Of experience, such as
cooks and former soldiers, are desired
at that time. Warning is given, how
ever, against getting into this levy by
reason of his experience any man who
might not otherwise have been includ-
ed in the first increment Of the dis
trict
Following Is the text Of the message
sent to the governors, dealing with
the status OF married men, prepared
at conference late today between
Secretary Baker and General Crow
der:
The Presidents Orders.
"a feeling has been expressed that,
In passing on claims for discharge on
the ground of dependents, local boards
ought in no case. to refuse a discharge
to a married man or to the head OF
a family The law under which local
boards act requires that before such
a discharge can be granted depend
ency as well as relationship must be
established. The matter having been
presented to the president, the follow
ine are his orders thereon;
I'VE ought as far as practicable
to raise this new national army with
out creating the hardships necessar-
ily entailed when the head of fam
ily is taken and 1 hope that for the
most part those accepted in the first
call would be found to be men who
had not yet assumed such plans.
1.-The selective service law makes
the fact of dependents, rather than
the fact of marriage, the basis for ex-
emption, and there are undoubtedly
many cases within the age limits fixed
by law of men who are married and
yet whose accumulations or other
economic surroundings are such that
no dependency of the wife exists in
fact. Plainly, the law does not con-
template the exemption of this class Of
men.
THE regulations promulgated on
June 80, 1917 should be regarded as
controlling in these cases, and the or
ders issued under that regulation di-
recting exemption boards to establish
the fact Of dependence in addition to
the fact OF marriage ought not to be
abrogated.'
Some Dependents Drafted.
THE attention Of this office has
been invited to the fact that. in few
instances. local boards have certified
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