Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-23
800 SLACKERS,
ESTIMATE HERE
a. Henry Walnut, Assistant
y. s. Attorney, Says They'll
Be Rounded Up
no SPEED OPERATIONS
Munitions Plants Make Appeal
q for Release of Several Thou
sand Craftsmen

According to a statement made late today
t by T. Henry Walnut. Assistant United
States District Attorney, there are approxi-
mately 1900 draft slackers in Philadelphia,
The Federal prosecutor asserted that of
the $4,000 men who we're summoned by the
N hfty-one local draft boards about per sent
failed to appear for physical examinations.
That these men who are trying to escape
army service will be rounded up and pun
ished was emphasized by the Assistant Dis
trict Attorney.
Catching the siackers" said Walnut. lis
big task, but we have tackled IL, and will
continue until every one of the slackers Is
accounted for"
That the status of married men is stIl
causing draft officials considerable concern
was admitted by Samuel s. Fels, member
OF District Appeal Board No I. Today he
visited Appeal Board No. 2 for the purpose
Of learning how that board is solving ex-
emption problems.
1T will be necessary" he said for the
two boards to get together and establish
few definite rules. 1t If true that each
exemption claim must be treated separately
and decided upon its merits, but II is also
true that there can be uniformity in regard
to the work"
ASKS INDUSTRIAL EXEMPTION
Bringing a message direct from General
Pershing. commander of the American
ing the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Rem
tngton Arms Company and Eddystone Am
munition Company, TODAY appeared before
Philadelphia District Appeal Board, No. 2,
and urged that 1900 men employed In those
plants should be exempted from service in
the new national army.
II have just returned from a seven weeks
visit to France" said Garrett, "and am in
q position to state, and with authority,
too. that the need for locomotives. rifles
and shells in France is far more imperative
than the need of men. General Pershing
Impressed this much upon me-"
Garrett, said the concerns he represented
are working exclusively for the Government
and that to complete their contracts for
locomotives rifles and shells II VIII be nee
essary to keep the working forces virtually
intact.
CANNOT BE REPLACED
'At the Baldwin Locomotive plant" said
Garrett I'VE have $500 men who cannot
be replaced; at the Remington Arms plant
we have 1900 and at the Eddystone Am
nunition plant we have 800 We ask that
these men be excluded from the draft in
order that they can furnish the supplies
that are needed"
Garrett appeared before the board not for
the purpose Of asking for the exemption of
the workers In blanket form. but rather TO
impress upon the board members the labor
problems that confront industrial plants as
result of the draft.
The board reached no decision, but made
no secret Of the fact that IT was impressed
with the argment made by Garrett.
We wanted to get first hand information
concerning the Industrial plants engaged in
war work" said Chairman Walter Willard
Thousands of exemption claims have been
nied on Industrial grounds, and TO dispose of
them In manner that will serve the best
interests OF the nation 1t is necessary to get
the cooperation of employers"
Outlining the plan of the three COM
panies In regard to the exemption of skilled
men. Garrett said: I'VE have grouped our
workers In three divisions. Gioup A in |
ciuoes foremen. draughtsmen. superinten-
cents and skilled mechanics who are abso-
1utely necessary in the operation of the |
plants. To complete the work that is un-
oer contract for the Government these men |
cannot be spared
Group includes the men who have
been trained in the work of making riass
ana shells II Is impossible to replace them |
with inexperienced men
Group includes very valuable men but |
the necessity of raising an |
In this group" '' '''e''
CLAIMS SEPARATE
Garrett announced that each exeuntion
ciain VIII be treated separately and that
the concerns will file an affidavit setting
Iorh mat each man filing an exemption
oA'm Is essential In the operation of the
Plant with which he is connected
The men, he added, have agreed IN
eontinue at work, and In the event an
eAenipted man is discharged or quits our
e"pioy notice will be sent to the local
uraft board which has the power to draft
n,m INTO the military service. Every