The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-21
MAY MODIFY RULES
AS TO MARRIED MEN
Men With Dependent Children Will
Probably he Exempt in Every
Case Except when wealthy.

washington. Aug. 20.-President
Wilson is going to modify the draft
regulations as applied to married men.
This was forecast today by a source
close to the White House From the
same authority 1t was learned that the
presidents idea of how the law should
be carried out in this respect Will be
made plain before the week ends. prob
ably in the form of letter to secre-
tary of War Baker.
The following notifications of the
regulations will be among those to be
suggested, it was said today:
l. Men with dependent children will
are men of wealth. at present. under
! Provost Marshal General Crowder's in
depreciation. such men are not exempt
If the parents. either of themselves
or wife, are able to take care of her
and the children.
1t Is maintained that the present in
! terpretation of the law creates a class
distinction. Under 1t laboring men
would be exempt in practically every
instance az their parents or their
wives parents scarcely would be in
while, on other hand. business scien-
while the other hand. business, scien-
tific and professional men would bear
the brunt of the rule.
?. Because woman worked before
marriage. it will not follow that her
husband will be refused exemption on
the ground that she can 80 back TO
work and take care of herself. The
president Is said to realize that this
= \,
/ local boards on General Crowder's in
structions. works grave hardships in
! many cases. A woman's health may
! be not as good as before marriage,
I and what Is still more important, she
I may not be able to get such position
as she had when welded. This applies
especially to women who were school
teachers and in other professional and
semi professional implements.
3. Married men owning their own
F., businesses. or engaged in the profess
sions such as doctors, lawyers. arehi-
tects. etc. in all probability will re
! ceive exemption. as the president real
/ ICES that hardshps not alone would
he imposed during the period Of the
] war, but afterwards II these men were
] removed from their homes and forced
to rebuild their business.
Tn case. however. they have sufficient
funds to maintain their wives during
their absence. exemption viii not be
granted The same Ia true If either
the man or wife has an income sniff
| cient to meet her needs as those needs
| must be restricted to the national sac
| riffce OF war
Only sixteen Days Remain.
Only sixteen days remain before the
first tncremerts of tho drafted forces
will he on their way to the training
camps, and any reversal or modification
of the present regulations will entail
| n number Of rehearinGs by district
| boards on rejected exemption claims.
The president. il is believed. will air
his views in sufficient time to allow
at least ten davs for such work,
The White House until the last
! couple of DAYS has been flooded with
kilograms from all parts of the coun-
trv protesting at the severity Of the
draft regulations. His views have
, been widely quoted and was regarded
in all sections as favorlne almost class
exemption for married men. As a TO.
; suit when the law did not operate that
f way protests began to come in, Their
: after his letter to senator Weeks. TX
pressing the view that more leniency
, should be shown. n new food of mes
sages came, telling of cases where thu
r writer's thought they had been suojec
!. to injustice.
= In the last day or SO. however there
= has been a falling off in the number q
e the messages The presidents assis
O tants view this as an evi,s>nce tina
n the country Is satisfied 10 leave thu
s matter In the presidents hands
o Provost Marshal General Crowde
e today ordered a change in the tim
+ when draft forces shall proceed to tn
:, training camps The first thirty Pc
cent will entrain on September 5. a
I scheduled but the second and thir'
: Fincrements will not he called from
their homes until September 10, an
< october g. instead of September Is an
y %, as previously scheduled.