Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-03
The Statement

TO the direction OF the selectlVe service
law, cover the remaining steps of the
plan for calling into the service of the
United States qualified men from
those who have registered; those Sc
lected as the result of this process to
constitute, with the regular army, the
national guard and the navy. the
fighting forces of the nation, all OF
which forces are under the terms of
the law placed in position of equal
right, dignity and responsibility with
the members of all other military
forces.
The regulations have been drawn
With a view to the needs and circum-
stances Of the whole country and pro-
vide a system which it is expected
will work with the least inequality
and personal hardship. Any system
of selecting men for military service
whether voluntary or Involuntary in
it's operation. necessarily selects some
men to bear the burden Of danger and
sacrifice for the whole nation. The
system here provided places all men
CT military age upon an equal plane
and, by a selection which neither ia
calls out the requisite service.
The successful operation OF this
law and of these regulations depends
necessarily upon the loyalty, patrio-
t!sn and justice of the members of
the boards to whom its operation is
committed, and I admonish every
member of every local board and OF
every district board Of review that
their duty TO their country requires an
impartial and fearless performance Of
the delicate and difficult duties en-
trusted to them. They should remem-
her as to each individual case present
ed to them, that they are called upon
te adjudicate the most sacred rights
Of the individual and to preserve un-
furnished the honor of the nation
Our armies at the front will be
strengthened and sustained II they be
composed Of men free from any sense
Of injustice in their mode of selection,
and they will he inspired tn loftier
acts in behalf of country in which
the citizens called upon to perform
high public functions perform them
with justice, fearlessness and impair
tiality."
The Organization
Upon organizing the local boards
will take over from the registration
boards all registration cards, which
they will number serially and list for
posting to public view Then, after
having been advised of the method by
which the order of liability for service
shall he determined and Of the quota
to be drawn from its territory (minus
credits for enlistments in the National
Guard or regular army each board
will prepare list of persons designat-
ed for service in the order of their liza
bility. post the list. give it to the press,
and within three days send notice to
each designated person by mail.
The Examination
AS the men so notified appear, the
boards first will make a physical ex-
animation in accordance with special
regula tons to be provided. bearing in
mind that all persons accepted by
them will be re-eXamined by army
surgeons. If the physical examination
is passed successfully, then comes the
question of exemption.
The Exempted List
Persons who must be EXEMPTED or
discharged by the local board include:
Officers of the United States Of the
states, territories and the District of
Columbia: ministers of religion stu
dents of divinity; persons in the mill
tary or naval service of the United
States; subjects of Germany, an other
aliens who have not taken out first
papers, county or municipal officers,
custom house clerks. workmen in Fed
eral armorics, arsenals and navy yards,
persons in the Federal service desis-
mated by the President for exemption,
pilots, merchant marine sailors, those
with status with respect to depend
ents which renders their exclusion de-
sirable "a married man with depend
ent wife or child. son of a dependent
widow, son of a dependent aged or
inf1rm parent or brother of dependent
orphan child under Is years Of age),
those found morally deficient and any
member Of any well-recognized relig-
ious sect existing May IS. 1917, whose
creed forbds participation in war al d
whose religious convictions accord
with the creed.
How Claims Are Made
Claims for exemption because of de-
pendentS may be made by the man
himself. wife. or other dependents, or
ty third party. who has personally
investigated the case. a claim made by
the husband must be accompanied by
supporting affidavits signed by the wife
and by the head of family residing
in the same territory. A claim by the
wife or a'third party must be accom-
panied by two supporting afidavits
signed by heads of families Similar
rules govern claims on the grounds
Of other dependents. the dependents or
third Parties being authorized to file
claims with supporting afTidavits In
each case the board m,JAt be satisfied
before 1t grants exemption or dis
charge, that the dependent or depend
ends actually are supported mainly by
the fruits of the mans mental or phys
ical labor.
Local boards are required, subject to
appeal to pass upon claims for exemp-
ton or discharge within three days after
the fling Of afIidavits. District boards
must decide appeal cases within Ave days
after the closing OF proofs, and their de-
cisions are final. II the ruling Of local
board is affirmed the person in question
stands finally accepted for military ser
vice.
On Ground Of Employment