The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1917-09-01
PRESIDENT WILSON WOULD EXEMPT ALL
GENUINE FARMERS AND MARRIED men

Washington, Aug. SIN disap-
proving a proposal by Representa-
tive Shouse of Kansas that all men
engaged in agricultural pursuits last
March be exempted from military
service, President Wilson today
wrote the congressman that a class
exemption would lead 70 many diff
ficulties and 10 much heartburn
ing He added, however, that he
should personally to see all the
genuine farmers left AT their indis-
pensable labors."
The president also called atten-
ton to Provost Marshal General
Crowders recent arrangement for
calling men whereby most farm
labor will not be drafted in service
before Oct. 1 when it is believed
most of the heavy farm work will
be done. This arrangement was
the result, the president wrote, of
most careful and sympathetic at
tention" by the war department.
Representative Shouse responded
to the presidents letter with the
declaration that much Of the Kansas
wheat crop would not be in on Oct
I and that the labor situation in that
state was critical.
Washington, d. c., Aug. a.
President Wilson has written secre-
tary Baker expressing a view that
the drafting of married men who
are heads of families should be
carefully examined 10 avoid it if
possible, and expressing the view
that only single men should be taken
where it is possible.
Would Liberalize Draft
! As the president is empowered by
the draft law TO make the regula-
tions under which it will be carried
out the effect Of his letter 10
Secretary Baker is TO throw his in
fluence toward a more liberal pol
icy for exemption of married men
than heretofore has been pursued
by the provost marshall generals
office.
II is no secret that the presidents
view is in open conflict with the in
depreciation placed at present upon
the law by the army officers who
are administering it. They con-
tend that Us the history of law
Amendments 10 exempt married men
they have no legal authority TO ex-
empt them except on the grounds
of dependency alone.
Would Avoid Taking Married Men
President Wilson'S view, as fore
casted in his recent letter TO Sena-
tor Weeks is that the aking of mar
ried men and heads of ftDilies
should ba avoided at least in he
draft.
Thousands Have Been Drafted
Under the construction Of the
law as seen by provost marshal gen.
eral CrOwder, draft boards all over
the country have listed for service
many thousands of married men
whose wives are not, however. con-
sidered wholly dependent upon them
for support. he boards have gem
orally held that where marriage
occurred since the declaration Of
war and no actual dependency was
established the man would be listed
for service. Whenever the mar
riage might have occurred income,
or had made her living before mar
riage and was physically able 10
resume eafping her living, or
where some parent or other relative
was willing 10 sign an affidavit
pledging her support, the husband
would be listed for service.
Would DisaETange the Draft
The effect Of the presidents let
ter if construed as an order and
applied TO all those who have been
listed for service as we'll as all those
still 10 be examined, would caYs~
thousands Of nRen and compe 6rac-
tically every bard iD-f6s eountry