Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-11-15
President Wilson Puts
New Draft Machine
Into Operation
New Organization Makes AL
Men Liable To Service


Washington, Nov. 13.-The new
machinery for the carrying out of the
selective draft bill has been formally
put into operation by President VIII
son with the foreword he has writ
ten to the regulations under which
the second call will be made.
The regulations themselves and the
QUESTIONABLE, which more than 5000,
100000 registrants will be required t.
fill out, are being forwarded to local
boards, but have not yet been made
public.
This reorganization makes every
man subject to war duty, if not in
France, at least in the fields and fac
tories.
War department officials estimate
that the whole process can be com
pleted within 60 days. This means
that no second call will be made
Upon the draft forces before the mid
die Of next February, as the period
of classification will not begin until
December Is.
The President describes the new
plan of dividing all registered mer
not already mobilized into five class
es, subject to military service by
classes. as being intended to produces
"a more perfect organization of oul
man-power."
The Presidents ~forewsord follows:
1.-THE task of selecting and mobiliz
ing the first contingent of the Ma
tional army Is nearing completion
The expedition and accuracy of its
accomplishment were a most crafty
ing demonstration of the efficiency o'
our democratic institutions. The
swiftness with which the machinery
for its execution had to he assem-
bled, however, left room for adjust
ment and improvement. New regu
lations putting these improvements
into effect are, therefore, published
There is no change in the essential
obligation of men subject to selection
The first draft must stand unaffected
by the provisions of the new regula
tions. They can be given no retro
active effect.
"The time has come for more
perfect organization of our man
power. The selective principle must
be carried to its logical conclusion
We must make a complete inventory
of the qualifications of all registrants
In order to determine as to each man
not already selected for duty with
the colors, the place in the military
Industrial or agricultural ranks ol
the nation in which his experience
and training can best be made tc
serve the common good. This project
involves an inquiry by the selection
boards into the domestic, Industrial
and educational qualifications ol
nearly 100000 men. Members ot
these boards have rendered con
spicuous service. The work was
done without regard to personal con
venience and under pressure of i'm
mediate necessity which imposed
great sacrifices.
Not one.Tenth Done.
"Yet the services of men trained by
the experience of the first draft mus,
Of necessity be retained and the Sc
lection boards must provide the direct
ing mechanism for the new classifi
cation. The thing they have done II
Of scarcely one-tenth the magnitude
Of the thing that remains to be done
It is of great importance both to mill
tary and to our economic interest!
that the classification be carried
swiftly and accurately to conclu
sion. An estimate Of the time neces
sary for the work leads to the conclu
sion that it can be accomplished II
go days. but only II this great mar
shalling Of our resources of men Il
regarded by all as national war un
dertaking Of such significance as t.
challenge the attention and compe
the assistance of every American.
II call upon all citizens. therefore
to assist local and district boards b,
proffering such service and such ma
terial conveniences as they can offe
and by appearing before the boards
either upon summons or upon thei
own initiative. to give such insorma
ton as will be useful in classifying
registrants. urge men Of the lega
profession to offer themselves as a.
sociate members of the legal advisor
boards TO be provided in each con
, munity for the purpose Of advisin
, registrants Of their rights and obliSs
tions and Of assistlng them IN th
prepa;at.op es Their sEswe: f. u
.~n