New-York tribune., 1917-07-22
Sectionalists, Aliens and
EXemptS

g CECTIONALISM broods over the draft.
~ Senator Pomerene. Of Ohio, charges
that the census has been deliberately pad
ded so as to throw the burden Of con-
scription upon the North" and the accu-
sation was backed by the influential SEN
ator Lodge of Massachusetts,.
The aliens being as yet exempt, those
states, mostly Northern, which have large
alien populations must draft larger
number of natives in order to make good
the draft allotment based upon the census.
This was the original plant. The charge
that the census returns have been padded
| by an administrative majority Of South
ern Democrats is an added grievance
Akron, Ohio, has a population Of 100000.
the Ohio Senator contends, while the Fed
eral emergency estimate used for the
draft gives Akron 100000 population.
/ Cleveland and Detroit are credited with
populations of more than a million each
Governor Mccall of Massachusetts, pro-
tested against the heavy allotment for his
state, while protests have also been reg
istered from New York and New Jersey.
The extension of the draft to aliens who
have taken out their first citizenship pa
pers has hereupon become live issue, the
Northern Representatives hoping thus to
readjust in some degree the lack of Sec
tional proportion. These sectional differ
erces have also been made to hinge upon
the race question, as this little colloquy
in the House of Representatives reveals:
Mr.. Meeker-How, in the light OF the sug-
geston that the gentleman is making, would
it affect the drafting of the non-voting cit
zens of the South, the negro race? Are they
to be compelled to serve?
Mr. Rogers-I suppose so.
Mr.. Meeker-Are they to be drafted into
the service?
Mr.. Rogers-As far as know, they are.
Mr.. Meeker-And they would be allotted
to the Southern States?
Mr.. Rogers-Yes.
Mr. Hardy-will the gentleman permit me ?
Mr.. Rogers-I prefer not to yield il the
gentleman's question is along the same line.
Mr. Hardy-I wish the gentleman might
have stopped yielding before he reached me.
Mr.. Rogers-How in the world was | to
know what the question was going to be
! (Laughter)
Mr.. Hardy-Well, | wish TO deny the insin-
Iuaton OF the gentleman from Missouri that
there is any non-voting population in Texas.
Mr. Bmrnett---Hew about East st. Louis1-
Incidentally it is announced from
Washington that there will be no color
line drawn in the draft and that the
Southern negro, whether voteless or not,
will have the privilege. At the same
time the drafting of aliens, exclusive OF
enemy aliens, will proceed under the
resolution framed by Chairman Cham
berlain of the Senate Military Commit
tee. provided it is enacted and the alien
governments interested do not object. Italy
has already protested.
Tagging in several states prevented
the earlier completion of the draft ma
chinery, but the promised drawing ap-
preached fulfilment by the latter part Of
the week Out Of the 100000 to be
called selected number of nearly 70O,-
600 will probably be designated for
autumn mobilization. But there will still
be uncertainty as to who will be called in
the months Immediately following. New
York's initial quota is 1924 men, 100000
being the city's allotment.
Exempted men will get badges, while
those who have been neither drawn nor
exempted will presumably be in badge