The midland journal., 1917-07-13
] TO Use JURY
WHEEL IN DRAFT
The U. S. Officials Waiting Only
on States.
100000 TO BE CALLED
Stress Laid On Serial Numbering OF
Registration cards-Single
Jury Wheel May
Be Used.

Washington.-Sele day for the
new national army is approaching
rapidly as the local exemption boards
in the various states complete their
organization, give serial numbers to
the registration cards and forward
certified copies to Provost Marshal
General Crowder Indications are that
the drawing will be held this week,
but no official statement has been
made as to the War Departments
plans.
Administration officials still main
tain strict silence as to the method to
be followed The recent statement by
Secretary Baker that the drawing
would be held in Washington, how
ever, coupled with the stress laid upon
the serial numbering of registration
boards, clearly indicates the general
outline of the plan.
1t is understood that it is proposed
to place in single jury wheel in
Washington one complete set of num-
bers. When a number is taken from
the wheel the man in each exemption
district whose card bears that serial
number will be drafted. Thus, as each
number is drawn, approximately 10000
men will be drafted, or one in each
exemption district. If 100000 men
are to be called before the exemption
boards in the first selection, which
seems highly probable, only 40 num-
bers would need to be drawn.
There are numerous complications
which must arise, however, and the
method of selecting them can be
known only when the Administration
makes known it's plans in detail For
instance, the number of registered in
dividuals in each district who are
liable for military service will certain
ly not be the same. Aliens are regis
tered, but not liable for duty.
All this must be considered in franz
ing the regulations. Provision must
be made also to balance as far as pos
sible the chances of military duty be-
tween the men in each district, so
that disqualification of large number
in any particular district for any rea-
son will not put upon those qualified
additional likelihood of being sent to
the front.
Various ways of accomplishing this
correction of chances SO as to make
the resulting draft as fair as human
ingenuity can contrive have been sug-
gested The matter has had President
Wilson's personal consideration, in
line with his pledge that the method
employed would be just in every re-
spect
While the first contingent of the
new army, under the bill, is limited to
100000 men. an additional 125,000 or
10000 will be needed to make up the
reserve battalions of this force. Re
serve battalions are now being recruit
ed for all regular regiments and will
be recruited for the National Guard
when it is drafted into the Federal
service. The organization of the ma
tional army will be on the same basis
1t may be necessary, also, to draft
enough men to fill up the regulars and
National Guard to war strength, al
though no decision to this end has been
reached as yet. The regulars are now
close to war strength and the guard
units are recruiting rapidly. If pos
sible, they will be completed by the
war volunteer system.
There is one other consideration
which will affect the total number of
men to be drawn. Opinion varies as
to the number of exemptions which
must be made for the different causes
outlined in the exemption regulations.
A rough estimate of at least SO per
cent. exemptions for physical or other
reason has been generally employed in
computing the probable size of the
task before the exemption boards.
Another factor which is being work
ed out in the selection regulations is
the provision of the law requiring that
each state be given credit at the draw
ings for the number of men it has sup
piled as volunteers in the regular
army or the National Guard.