The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-20
SOLEMN SCENE
Of LOTTERY
America Drafted Her Youth
Today for War Against
Kaserisrn in Silent
Ceremony.
a.
AN ALL DAY oPERAT}. S
/sss
sIlndfold.d Men Draw on. .,ou-
sand Numbers Fr
Filled W.
Capsules.
AN ALL DAY oPERAT3 s

[By Webb Miller. United Press Staff
Correspondent
| ROOM 226 SENATE OFFICE
BUILDING, WASHINGTON. July 20.
America today drafted her youth
for war against Kaiserism.
| Starting at $3.50 o'clock in this
garish chamber, blindfolded men
drew the fated capsules bearing draft
numbers. Out through the country
J each number notified youth Of the
order In which Uncle Sam wants him
to respond to the call to arms
Ten thousand five hundred num-
| bers will be drawn and it will be
night before the last pellet has been
! culled.
This method was necessitated by a
| change in plans late yesterday after
several state boards were found to
have blundered in preparing their
lists.
1t was solemn scenes
| Dignif1ed congress members-only
notwithstanding Of War Baker,
General Enoch Crowder, chief Of the
draft, and his aides, Major Johnson
and Major Allen Gullion. moving pic
ture men clicking off the scene and
news men flashing out the numbers,
were the only witnesses.
General Crowder enforced silence.
The drone of announcers, telling
off the drawings was the only sound.
Hour after hour the blinded men
worked. The black paper numbers
! were drawn from capsules and the
numerals inscribed on blackboard
and on tally sheets, whilst clicking
wires outside flashed the tallies over
the nation.
The solemnity Of the spectators
contrasted strangely with the setting
of this unique picture.
The room is high ceilinged. Square
green jade pillars flank the pea green
Of its broad, deep wall panels. The
cream white ceiling is dotted with
criss-crossed swasticas-the good
luck sign.
Turkey red carpet clashes with the
other adornment while ponderous oak
doors, upholstered oak chairs and a
mahogany table add other tinges to
the lurid color scheme.
At the far end, tall double mirrors
frauted in gold. top off massive
white marble fireplace, while ornate
crystal chandeliers cast a sheen over
the whole.
In the past, this chamber has seen
the senate lobby investigation, the
Lortmer hearings and the great rail-
road strike negotiations.
Here is the lottery plan:
In each Of 1857 districts in the
country, the men are numbered seri-
ally from one to the highest number
of cards in that district.
I,n cy1o
globes here establishes the draft
order of every man holding that num-
Der in every district in the nation.
In case the numbers higher than
district contains are drawn they are
disregarded in making up the list in
that district.
For instance, II SGT were the first
capsule pulled out, the man holding
SGT in every district having numbers
as high as that are drafted and must
report first in their district. Then
If As is next, the men holding 45 in
each district would be the second
men on the lists.
II a high number such as 1876
should come third, it would be dis
regarded by the districts with lower
| numbers.
At dawn the force Of clerks fin
ished numbering 10000 slips of paper
for the new plan They were care
fully recounted and checked several
times and inserted into little gelatine
capsules and checked again. Then
they were sealed in glass. globes.
| At o'clock the globes were car
| ried to the senate Office building. A
| huge blackboard with one thousand
squares was erected on one side of
! the room.
/ AS each tiny capsule was pulled
out by the blindfolded men, It was