Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-16
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steps to round up between 10000
ana 10000 men who have not COM
pied with draft regulations an'
sumo Oh whom are classed by peopfS
at state draft headquarters as out
ana out slackers are about to be
taken by the officials in charge Of
the enforcement of the draft IN
pennsylvania. Ever since the last
consignment of men was forwarded
10 the mobilization camps efforts
nave been under way to obtain first
hahd information about the number
OF men who have been sent and
those who have evaded the draft.
Inc number required has been rur-
nlshed by number of the 2S2 local
boards, but there are some who are
considerably shy of the quota. Prac-
tically every board has reported men
who lodged service or who could not
be reached. 1t is estimated that
some or the boards have 200 OF 800
men who have not responded, In
Vestlgatlons are under way and it
mas been found that there is a fair
proportion of slackers who evaded
service either by failing to register
or to appear when summoned; son,,,
who were either too ignorant or who
did not understand what was meant
when they were summoned to re-
port Tor examination; others who did
not get notices because of mis-
ulrectlons or other reasons; men who
were absent or who are in the Army
or who were away from the district
when called, while there are likewise
some who avoided getting mail. This
latter class is said to have been ratf-
er larger than suspected because the
ofllcial envelope probably made them
suspicious and who declined accept
ance. These names will be made up
IN lists and the men sent for. The
slackers will be sent to designated
camp and kept together for inten-
slVe training to make up for lost
time, i'll the opinion of men here,
while those who were ignorant or for
other causes did not appear will, be
| sent to camps to fill up units. The
examinations will start before very
| long.
| 1t is an interesting commentary
! on the draft to note that very few
| Chlnese or Japanese out of the hun
| dfeds called in this state have asked
| to be exempted. Many Italians, in
| spite OF the fact that their county is
az war ana allied with the United
states. which is bending efforts to
help, have asked for exemptions.
some of them even after getting into
training at camps while Creeks.
Spaniards and Russians have also
| MED many claims for relief The
filing by the Russians is probably the
| largest in number and a regular in
| dustry in that line appears to be op-
Grating in Philadelphia. But as for
t,1e
up and every camp has Chinese or
Japanese wearing the uniforms and
stepping as smartly as the sons of
pennsylvania hills.
|
William II. Ball, secretary to the
Governor, has brought back a good
story from one of the camps which
were visited by the Governor and
his party. At one of the canton
ments the officers were more or less
perpleXed in handling the drafted
men from Pennsylvania because of
the large percentage of foreign
names. There were some excellent
young Americans in the companies,
but they had the names given to
them by their parents This condition
was Illustrated by remark by one of
the officers, who said in speaking of
| the difficulties, THE rolls of the
companies are fearful and wonderful
things. In calling the roll the other
day the first sergeant of a company
sneezed."
Mr. Ball says he inquired what
happened then.
why" said the officer, Twenty
two men answered present."
|
Superintendent of Public Grounds
and Buildings Shreiner is proceed
ing with all due caution in the re-
moVal of the trees in Capitol Park
which have been marked for taking
out either because of their condition
or because they are in the line of
improvements. When the plan of
taking out trees was broached it was
decided to do it gradually. The tree
sharks say that the park is over
crowded and that it has more trees
than the soil of the hill, which is a
hard shale, can support. In any
event, it was determined that the
trees should be taken out one by one
and it was thought that the worst
should be first. The other day a
man stopped some workers and
4 asked why the old trees along Wal
nut street which had been damaged
when the Grand Opera House
burned in 1907 had not been taken
out, and resident of Third street
put up a strenuous kick because an
old tree with one limb hanging over
the Third street pavement was not
cut down right away.
!
Senator James P. McNichol. who
will be buried in Philadelphia to-
| morrow, was one of the advocates
of a new hotel in Harrisburg and
| took a big interest in the projects
| for construction. He said that a new
| hotel would make hundreds of peo-
| pie stop here every week to see the
| Capitol.