The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-26

Washington. August 25.--Presideut
Wilson today ruled that wives os men
selected IN the draft should not, be-
cause they had employment before
marriage. he thrown upon their own
resources or upon the charity of their
own or their husbands parents for
support
He ordered that all men upon
whose labors their wives or children
derend entirely for support. should
Re exempted His action was taken
m rssnonSe ~ nation wide protests
scainst the harsh Interpretation plac-
ea IN the draft law by the provost
marshal generals office. that a woman
sa~zhese parents or whose husbands
parents were able and willing to sup
port her and her children, or who
was qualified to gain her own sup
port, should he thrown upon those
resources and her husband sent to
VA
The presidents orders were con-
fAt~ Cd in letter TO Secretary OF War
reser Immediately upon their re-
Stsxsass g.sf SAG 4 sSssssss * \. Az Il.
two conferences followed.
Laws Interpretation.
After the second conference. Cen
trai Crowder issued the following
bulletin to local boards:
IA feeling has been expressed
that In RAISING on claims for dis
charge to a married man or to the
head OF family. The law under
which local boards act requires that
before such a discharge can be grant
I'd dependency as well as relation
ehfp must 10 established. The mat
Ter having been presented to the
President. the following are his
orders thereon:
I'VE ought a. far as practica BILE
% rasae this now national army with
nut creating the hardships necessarily
enfafied when the head OF family
y taken and I hope that for the most
part those accepted in the first call
VIII be found to be men who had
hot yet assumed such relations.
Dependents Canse Of Exemption.
THE active service law makes the
fact Of dependents rather than the
Fact Of marriage the basis for exemp-
zion and there are undoubtedly many
eases within the age limits fixed by
law. OF men who are married and
vet whose Accommodations or other eco
nomic Surroundings are such that no
dependency OF the wife exists in fact
Plainly the law does not contemplate
exem ption for this class Of men,
the regulations promulgated on
1 June 80. 1917. should be regarded as
] oontroiiing these cases and orders L.
sued under that regulation directing
exemption boards to establish the fact
pf dependents In addition TO the fact
u marriage ought not TO be ahro-
mated. In few iffstances local
boards have certified AZ held for mill
tary services mon whose families are
actually dependent upon them for
support on the theory that the wife
b able to work and should be put to
the necessity OF going to work to sup
port herself and children.
wife Should Not BE Left Unsupported
This situation Ii addressed In the
following opinion OF the distUct
hoard Of New York city. in which
opinion we concur:
we do not concur in the view
suggested in some quarters that in
case of wife and children actually
dependent on applicants labor for
support and where there are no
other means OF support. the wife
should be put to the necessity OF GO
fng to work to support herself and
children. Bona fide dependency OF
Wife and children on labor of appli-
cant. where in his absence they win
- icIN WITHOUT redsoHdpty dueVuate
support after duly taking into con-
rsde-essnn soldiers' wage and support
available from relatives, ms stated In
the rulings Of the provost marshal
gpneral. II rround Of discharge
'sThis opinion clearly and adequate
~ expresses the intent Of the law In
this regard"
Heart Of New Rulcs.
And now comes the most important
paragraph Of tho bulletin. It was
pOdnted out BY Provost Marshal Gem
eFAl Cfowder N '.the heart OF the new
yulee.'' rt says:
s'Para&rath y complied rulings
~ this Ulsce. number ., addressed
G1nte q aaairs where the paFents or
(csattnps1 - ssesn1 Pass.l y