The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-20
DRAFT DAY PASSES SERIOUSLY;
MOTHERS AND WIVES WEEP AS
RELATIVES NAMES ARE CALLED
Unofficial Quota is 26s for County, But $50 Men Will Be
Permitted to Enter National Armed Forces-Most
Eligibles Ready to Go-Superstitious Feared Effect
of Drawing on Friday.

Draft day was one Of unusual SOL
emnity in Richmond and Wayne coun-
ty, Friday.
While most Of the men whose num-
bers were called said they were will
Ing and ready to respond to their
countrys call, others were struck with
fear.
Practically every home In the coun-
ty felt the effect OF the first drawing
for the first national army
Many Tears Are Shed.
Everywhere, throughout the city.
mothers Of sons. whose numbers were
selected. wives and sweethearts gath
cred and many tears were shed.
Soon Wayne county will give up 269
of its young men, the cream of those
selected
The men whose numbers were se-
lected displayed no unusual feeling in
the matter, and took the news as men
usually take such news |
AS usual it is the mothers who will
do the suffering.
There was something uncannily SER
fous about the day. One felt 1t as he
watched women standing in small
knots in streets and saw them in their
door ways. Several women would
gather and talk quietly.
Church Bells Toll.
News that the first numbers had
been selected was told by the tolling
Of church bells in many Of the city's
churches.
A corps Of workers was kept busy
at the office of The Palladium answer
ing telephone calls, regarding the
draft
my son, my boy tell me, tell me
will he have to go?" one woman asked
in low voice. It sounded as II she
had been weeping. Yes, she was told
when she gave his number, her son
was called
"God," she said. a deep sob, and
she was gone.
Crowd In Good Humor.
There were hundreds Of similar
cases. Crowds gathered in the front
of The Palladium office. The men
laughed and joked and the popular
question was, Did they get you?"
Quota Not Set.
Wayne county's quota for the first
national army has not been definitely
determined, according to State Con.
scription Agent Jesse Eshbach in a
long distance telephone talk with The
Palladium.
He said the quota had not been de-
termined because Of the failure of
national guard officers to report the
number Of men in each county.
The unofficial quota of Wayne
county is 269 There will be 538 names
drawn, however, as the President has
called for 200 per cent of the quota on
the first call.
Superstitious One Affected.
Many superstitious ones thought 1t
was a psychological mistake to con.
duct the drawing on Friday. because
of the old superstition regarding tho
day.
Il wish it had been the thirteenth
as well as Friday" Ross Williams, as.
sistant secretary Of the Y. NJ. c. A.
said. THAT was always my lucky
day." he added. Williams number had
Lot been drawn late Friday afternoon.
Mayor Robbins said that Friday was
just as good day as any other. He
doesn't believe in superstitions any.
way, he says.
Leslie Cox, 25 years old, the third
man drawn, said he would 90 willingly
if good home could be found for his
wife and two babies. Cox, who is a
clerk, celebrated his wedding ami
versary Thursday night.
Wenger Is Undecided.
Emerson N. Wenger, brakeman
living at 22713 North Sixth street, who
was the second man to be drawn SAID
he would claim exemption on the
grounds that his wife was dependent
lcontinued On Page Ski