The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-21
FAIRNESS OF DRAFT


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 FAIRNESS OF DRAFT | The fairness of selective draft was dena- onstrated beyond a doubt yesterday morn ing when the United States government began it's drawing for 6S7000 soldiers for | the United States army. Number 2oS, the | first number, showed that in Birmingham Willard Cranston Gossett, 741S Sloss ave nue, district 1; John Lewis Cox, 1913 Iroquois street district 2; Oliver Ten rison Birmingham, N61S Huntsville ave- nue, district 3, John Anthony Sullivan i 54 Highland avenue, Pratt City, district l 4; Stinehart Easley Co, house 20 Solvay quarters, Ensley, district 5; Frank Doug las 719 Smith street, district 6 were Bir- mingham's first contribution. X
 John L. Cox is banker, o. | Bir- mingham is collector for reaMSstate frm John Anthony Sullivan is a ma chnist at the shops of Crane company, Frank Douglas is a Frisco fireman and Stinehart Easley is colored laborer. 1 This was case of taking men from every walk of life on the first number drawn. No fairer test could have been made, viewing it from the standpoint of reaching all classes
 EXCITEMENT OVER LISTS l A great deal of excitement prevailed l in Birmingham throughout yesterday, speculation running high as to who would be the next man. It is well known fact that many of the names drawn yes- terday will be exempted at once, due I to the fact that the men have families absolutely dependent upon them, and some are government servants. There is an allowance of 50 per cent made by the 1 government for men who will merit ex- emption and for those who will not be able to stand the physical examination. l The system of the draft is explained l in this manner;
 l Take the first four numbers drawn yes terday, 25S, 2522, 45S2 and 4os. The first I two numbers hit every district in Bir- mingham, while the third number only hit district 8, as that was the only pre- cinct in Birmingham that had number that high. Consequently the next mum Der drawn would be No. in this district, while in all other Birmingham districts the next number drawn the man would be No. 3.
 l In this order the numbers continue to run consecutivey, jumping the district where the number is higher than the highest registration number. until 11Sl men have been drafted, then the men drafted are showed up a number right on down the line in order, as those ex- amained fail or secure exemption. When | iphf l the entire 11S1 men of the first draft /, are exhausted, then starting where the l draft left off on the first call that com I pleted the list of l1Sl names, the next number is taken up and so on, until the | list is full again. This may be repeated | the second and perhaps the third time, until the quota of each district is pro duced.
 ! CONSULT AGE-HERALD LISTS
 me Birmingham lists which have been | published by The Ase-Herld during the 1 previous week were of immense value l to those seeking information regarding
 the names of the young men drawn. l Files had been preserved and those inter- ested were everywhere seen consulting l these published lists.
 | The lists of all men registered in Bir- mingham are posted on the ground floor | of the city hall in the lobby, principally | on the Fourth avenue side and any man | who does not know his red ink number can get it by looking at the registration lists, finding his name by getting his l precinct and division number from hls 1 card, then locating his position on the l lists by keys that are at the top ol 1 each list
 MUST INFORM THEMSELVES Every man drafted is expected by the l gov ernment to inform himself of this l fact, though the department will try to j notify every man of his selection. How I ever, failure of any man drafted to re port will be placed upon the man in question, and he will be dealt with as a deserter. When man is drafted he should consult the boards at the city hall 1 where his name is posted and ascertain whether his address is correct, so that he will get his notice inSdue time when mailed by the department. He will be notified through the mail when and ! where to report. IF the city of Birmingham the net
 quota of men wanted is: District I, 164
 district ? 2l4; district 8, 275; district 4
 l6s; district 5, 240; district 6. 1l9, making
 total of 11S1 for the first examination
 However, 2362 numbers will be drawn
 which is 50 per cent over the allotment for Birmingham. in order to replace thu
 men who arc not accepted.