Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-27
Provost Marshal Declares SyS-
tenn the Only Reasonable
Method of Raising Man
Power to Whip Germany

HAIN0E. N tbs car tAoNNEA -AsAA,Aa-aa
General CrOwder declared in state
Jnent OF the aims. accomplishment and
future OF the selective draft system ad-
dressed TO members OF the local boards
and made public here last night After
reviewing present conditions and neces-
stiles. General Cruwder predicted that
The seIec;ive system would become
permanent part OF Americas govern
mental system fOr wsT.
Every precaution possible has been
ssken with the new draft regulations.
General Crowdev said. 20 conserve eco
- uo5nic interests. but the paramount duty
~ the country is 20 raise an effective
sighting force.
General CrOwder's statement follows
IN full:
To the Local and District Boards.
Last July we were confronted with
the necessity or placing $4,000 re
cruits in mobilization camps 5ust
as fast as he factories OF the
country could furnish uniforms and
arms and the building enterprises OF the
nation could erect the sixteen great can
comments 20 receive them The Sme
limit was clearly defined The ueces-
sfty was pressing We we're commit
tel to the principle OF selection The
Esetu o. SELECTION GNNlNAAF~NN aANfaA ~
100000 men CnauestiOns6ly. OF these
lO.OOO. 600 there we're some particular
So. oe9 OF them whose taking would
reas; interfere with The Industrial and
economic life of the nation SUI. IN the
very nature OF things they could only
have been searchsdeout ny examining the
whole 10000. zoe.
There were TWO ways 20 do thls one
vas 70 make 4 graduated classification
~, al
who. Of the whole 100000 could nest
bs shared. IN the second class those who
could next be spared, and so forth
through all the classes Another way
was TO make only two classes, but 10
so liberaIize exemptions from the first
o. class as 20 make il comprise only about
ssT0 zoe men Both methods required
q more time than We had a. our disposal
r0H We we're warned that at about. this
tfrnA OF the wear the camps would be
ready 20 receive arm. and equiv the
first draft. II was very apparent that
under NJ new end untTied system
could Ie.ao6. 900 men be examined IN
such a short time. In this state of az
fairs there was but one thing 20 DO ana
.hss we did We established rules Tor
exemption restrictive enough to permit
US to produce $4,000 selectives in ten
ve.ks' time and yet liberal enough TO
7rotect industries. farms. governmental
organizations and families from any
very great hardship
Moving breathlessly. supported by the
governors OF the states and by ne
members OF our selection boards with
a patriotism. devotion and unselflsh zeal
that remains an inspiration TO the ma
tfon. We have accomplished our purpose
within the time limits at our disposal.
Must he Victorious
In
We have taken one great step, but il Is
only one step. AS our military need for
men grows so will our Industrial need
for labor grow. We have hacked the
first increment of our armies out with
a broadax because there was time Tor
no greater refinement We must pare
future increments away with greater
discrimination. The selective principle
must be carried 20 its logical conclusion
and we must meet Prussian efficiency
with a greater American effectiveness.
we must consider the circumstances of
all rezfstrants- We must arrange them
Fu-ths order in which they can be taken'
with the least disturbance and thus
place behind our battle lines sources or
recruitment that will furnish men IS
thsy- are needed This means a segre-
cation of registrsnts in classes arranged
in the order OF their availability Tor
military service.
Scientifically the greater the number
Of classes the less would be the disturb
ance &C our economic life. Practically
and after an exhaustive study OF our
experience we find that the circum-
stances OF registranss cause them 10 fail
quite naturally into five clesses
b. the great drawing in Washington
he order Of availability for all men
whoseN circumstances were equal was
determined We shall not disturb this
order unless some great need OF the ma
ton requires it. We shall make four
classes OF temporary and contingent dis
charges but within each class dnclud-
ing the class OF those immediately
zvailabieI neu shall stand IN the order
determined by the drawing.
The unit TO- classification Is the tu-
rssdfc.fou OF q local board The first
class IN ANY Jurisdiction will meet all
calls until {. IS exhausted. whereupon
he second class becomes available
Your have before you sheet show
sue the classification that must be ac-
enmplished withou, permitting your
s.lvss. for the moment. TO be appalled,
Nv the magnitude Of the task. ask you
70 SUPPOSE that the 100000 regis
trants In the United States have been
segregated into these five classes In
lass 1 we shall then have. In every
community, Immediately available for
military service single men and p Few
married men whose removal Will not
disturb the reasonably adequate support
Of their dependents. In the Industrial
and agricultural aspect. we shall have
segregated into this -clsss. men who
have not especially fitted themselves for
industrial or agricultural pursuits 40
nat our only incursion into the labor
supply will affect but a small percent
aae OF unskilled labor
In class > we find men who can 2e
AIKEN without disturbing the support Of
anv dependent and. as ] shall presently
show YOU. II the necessity OF drawing
on class arrives. we must demand
svsn from agricultural and industry an
adjustment 70 replace ? small percent
age OF skilled labor affected by the
draft-nsn who. while occupying 10
psvOtal or important position. can serve
industry or agriculture better than I'M
skilled men
Lower Glasses Not Likely
should the pinch OF military necessity
increase beyond class ?. Il would mean
that the nation would have 10 begin %
cornrnit Itself 20 hardship and 70 an ad-
fustr1ent in agriculture and industry TO
meet the paramount necessity We take
in class a very small class OF persons
upon whom others are dependent FOR
support. but we do not break up the
closest and most sacred OF the family