Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-21
ON WHEEL OF CHANCE
FATE OF TEN MILLIONS
Is SLOWLY UNWOUND

Continued from FIRST PaSe.)
voices Grew husky with the constant
calling of numbers. but the work went
ahead.
Before noon there was ample evil
dence that the draft was not proceeding
as quickly as General Crowder and
other officials had anticipated. SuE
gestions were made that as many num-
hers as possible be drawn by 6 o'clock.
and the others left over for 4 second
drawing tomorrow.
But General Crowder refused to lis,
ten He declared that the work must
he finished If it lasted until after dawn.
He doubled the reliefs. but refused any
further let-up.
From the quiet assemblage of grave
officials which witnessed the drawing
of the first number, the crowd in the
great room also changed and shifted
as the hours went on.
Hundreds Of little scenes showing
the strain of the occasion took place
in the room and the corridors leading
TO it during the day. 1t was a day
when Americanism underwent the test
and came through strong and gloritied.
All the little foibles and conceits were
lost in the hours while men waited to
learn whether they would be called
upon Immediately to serve their coun-
try at the front-out there where the
world is grappling-or whether they
would be held in the reserve.
One of the men engaged in drawing
numbers-one of the blindfolded youths
engaged for the work by General
Crowder-drew his own ticket for the
front He heard the announcer call
IL, but he did not even hesitate. The
next number" was waiting for the sec
ond announcer when he put out his
hand.
And it was like that throughout
the day. In the evening. after the
first quota had been filled, there was
less of the tenseness and more OF
the routine. With the numbers drawn
then it was a question possibly OF
months before there would be any d.
rect effect on the men. 1t was as II
man was merely reading war ru-
mors in the newspapers
The drawing was remarkably free
from personal demonstrations and
from emotion. There were no tear
stained mothers pleading for their
boys: there were no mock heroics. and
no tremblings of cowardice.
General Crowder was the heart and
nerves of the draft machine through
! out all the weary hours of the draw
! ing. Cool in his khaki uniform in the
| hottest hours of the day, calm when
! all was excitement around him. he
| guided by advice and directed with
! crisp words the men who were car
! rying on the work.
| His assistants. the men actively en-
gagged in the dra wing. kept working
| in shorter and shorter reliefs as the
| day went on and grew into night. and
the night was stuny and humid. and
the room heavy with sweltering hu-
manity. The bad air affected them
noticeably. After "ffteen-minute
shift" they would retire TO their room
in the back and throw themselves on
cots which had been brought in for
them in an effort to seize a few mo-
| ments' rest
, FLEET OF AUTOMOBILES
| FOR MEN ACTIVELY AT WORK
Food and cooling drinks were pro-
v!ded in profusion. and towards even
] Ing General Crowder. by telephone.
| modified 4 feet of automobiles in
| which the wearied tellers and an
nouncers might take short spins be-
tween tricks" in order to freshen
themselves with clean air.
The stage was carefully set in Room
22G, Senate Office Building. to-day. 1t
might have been a scene in a theater.
but there was nothing of the theatre
cal about it. although there was drama
The Massle Memorial