The Harrison times., 1917-08-11

| the common good to call them This
calm determination could not exist
were it not for the confidence of the
nation in its institutions. In this pub
lie confidence is found the very spirit
of the Selective Service Law. The
most sacred rights of country, home
and family are entrusted for adjudica-
ton to local citizens and officials,
nominated by State Governors and ap-
pointed by the President The most
equitable rules that could be devised
have been prescribed for guidance,
and the administration of these rules
and the sacrifice that is offered by
your neighbors is entrusted to your
hands.
From every one is demanded a sac
rifice. But there is one thought to be
kept always in your mind. The Sc
Iected man offers his life There is
no greater giving than this; and that
thought should guide you always
There may be few who will urge up
on you claims for exemption or dis
charge that, whatever may be your
inclinations of sympathy or affection,
you will know ought not to be granted
1t will strengthen you to remember
that for every exemption or discharge
that is made for Individual conven-
ience, or to escape personal loss of
money or property, or for favor or
affection, some other man whose time
would not otherwise have come, must
incur the risk of losing his life.
There can be no room for hesita-
tion in such a case.
Another fundamental thought is
this
You are not a court for the adjust
ment of differences between two per-
sons in controversy You are agents
of the government, engaged in select
ing men for the government and there
is no controversy. You, acting for
the government, are to investigate
each case in the interests of the Ma
tion, and never in the interests of an
individual There is not one exempt
ion or discharge in the law or regula-
tions that is put there for the benefit
of any individual. All are there for
the benefit of the nation and to the
end that 'the whole nation may be a
team in which each man shall play
the part for which he is best fitted"
Therefore no one has a vested right,
by himself or by attorney, to urge, by
argument or pleading, his individual
case upon you. You should rigidly ex-
clude this. Ordinarily YOU should act
on the affidavits. If you desire more
information you may proceed to get
it, If you doubt the affidayits you
may interrogate other per2Ons Ii you
desire more proof you may get it.
But no claimant has a right 70 submit
other. proof than that colIed for by
the Regulations on than that you may
call for.
There should be no rules like those
of court procedure, no technical rules
Of evidence. You should proceed to
| investigate cases about which you are
not satisfied exactly as you, as an in
dividual, would proceed to inform
yourself of any fact about which you
are in doubt.
Last of all, it is important to say a
word about your own sacrifice. The
place to which you have been called
is one which no man would seek save
in the performance of one of the high
est of patriotic duties.
There is not, in any real sense, any
remuneration. Because thousands OF
citizens urged that members of local
boards should not be placed in posi-
tion of performing their grave duties
for pay the regulations provide that,
ordinarily the service shall be un,
compensated. Because il was not de.
sired that any man be prevented from
rendering the service by the neces.
sity for earning his daily bread, q
small remuneration was provided.
The nation needs men, and needs
them quickly, The hours will then
be long and the work absorbing. The
duty is always to take and never to
give, and human nature is such there
will be little praise and some blame
The sacrifice of many of those whose
cases are to be decided is no greater
than that of the men who are to de
eide them; and your only reward must
be the knowledge that, at great per
sonal sacrifice, you are rendering
your country an indispensable service
I'm n matter of the utmost moment