The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-07-08
OUTLINE OF PLAN
DRAWING WILL POSSIBLY
BE HELD SOME TIME
THIS WEEK. =
Draft Officials Busily Engaged
in Working Out Many Com
plications. :

Washington, July 7.-Selection
day for the new national army is APP
preaching rapidly, as the local ex.
emption boards in the various states
complete their organization, give
serial numbers to the registration
cards and forward certified copies to
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
Indications are that the drawing will
be held next week, but no Official
statement has been made as to the
war departments plans.
Administration officials are main
tanning strict silence as to the method
to be followed. With the recent
statement by Secretary Baker that
the drawing would be held in Wash
ington, however, coupled with the
stress laid upon the serial numbering
of registration cards, the general
outline of the plan is clearly indicat-
ed.
1t is understood that it is proposed
to place in single jury wheel in
Washington one complete set OF
numbers. When number is taken
from the wheel, the man in each eX-
emption district whose card bears
that serial number will be drafted.
Thus, as each number is drawn, ap-
proximately 10000 men will be
drafted, or one in each exemption
district. Ii 100000 men are to be
called before the exemption boards
in the first selection, which seems
highly probable, only 40 numbers
would need to be drawn, each repre-
senting 40 men from each of the
10000 exemption districts.
There are numerous complications
which must arise, however, and the
method of solving them can be
known only when the adminlstra-
ton makes known its plans in detail.
The number of registered individ-
uals in each district who are liable
for military service will not be the
same. Aliens are registered but nos
liable for duty. In some districts
the proportion of physically dlsquali-
fled will run higher than in others
All this must be considered IN
framing the regulations. Provision
must be made also to balance, as Tar
as possible, the chances OF military
duty between the men in each dis
trlct, so that disqualification OF a
large number in any particular dis
trict for any reason will not put upon
those qualified additional Likelihood
of being sent to the front.
Various ways of accomplishing
this correction of chances so as te
make the resulting draft as fair al
possible have been suggested. Al
arrangement of dummy numbers
may be resorted to to equallze mat
ters between districts. The matter
has had President Wilson's persona
consideration in line with his pledge
that the method employed would bt
fair and just.
While the first contingent of thu
new army under the bill is limited
to 100000 men, an additional 10,
600 or 10000 will be needed TO
the reserve battalions. Reserve bat
talions are being recruited Tor al
regular regiments and will be re
eruited for the National Guard whel
it is drafted into the federal service
The organization of the natlona
army will be on the same basis.
1t may be necessary also to draf
enough men to fill up the regular
and National Guard to war strength
although no decision to this end ma
been reached. The regulars are clos
to war strength and the guard unit
are recruiting rapidly. If posslbl
they will be completed by the preser
war volunteer system.