Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-07
PICKING OF NUMBERS FROM
JURY WHEEL Is PROBABLE
When One Is Withdrawn, Will
Affect Man Of Serial Number
in Each Exemption District.
MEANS 10000 AT EACH TURN
Draft Will BE as Fair as Human
Ingenuity Can Contrive, as
Pledged by President.
tBy Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-Sclcction da y
for the new national army is approach
Ing 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 Crowdcr. Indications are that
the drawing will be held next week. but
no official statement has been made as
to the War Departments plans.
Administration officials still maintain
strict silence as 10 the methods to be
followed. but the recent statement by
Secretary Baker that the drawing
would be held in Washington, coupled
with tho stress laid upon the serial
numbering OF registration cards. indi-
cate tho general outline OF the plan.
1t Is understood that 1t Is proposed
ington, one complete set of numbers.
When a number is taken from the
wheel the man In each exemption dis
trict whose card bears that serial mum
number is drawn. approximately So
900 men will be drafted, or one In each
exemption district. II 100000 men are
to be called before the exemption board DIS
in tho hrst seie,cion. which seems
highly probable. only forty numbers
would need to be drawn.
There are numerous complications
which might arise. and the method Of
solving them can be known only when
the plan in detail is made. For in
stance. the number OF registered indi-
riduals in each district who are liable
for military service Will certainly not
be the same Aliens are registered. but
not liable for duty.
TO BALANCE CHANCES
IN EACH DISTRICT
All this must be considered In fram-
Ing the regulations. Provision must be
made. also. to balance, as far as pos
sihle, the chances OF military duty be-
tween the men in each district. no that
disqualification OF a large number In
any particular district for any reason
will not put upon those qualified ad-
ditional 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 in
genuity can contrive have been sug-
Gested. The matter has had President
Wilson's personal consideration. in line
with his pledge that the method en-
ployed would be just In every respect.
While the hrst contingent of the
new army under the bill is limited to
100000 men. an additional $4,000 or
kn 10
the reserve battalions OF this force
Reserve battalions are now being re-
cruited for all regular armies, and viii
he recruited for the National Guard
when It is drafted into the Federal
service. The organization OF tho ma
tional army will be on the same basis
1t pay be necessary, also, to draft
enough men to ill up the regulars and
National Guard to war strength, al
though no decision TO this end has
been reached. The regulars are close
to war strength and the guard units
are recruiting rapidly. II possible
they will be completed by the war
volunteer system.
OPINION VARIES as TO
NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS
There Ia 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 various causes
outlined in the exemption regulations
a rough estimate OF at least SO per
cent exemptions for physical or other
reasons has been generally employed
In committing the probable size of the
tax before the exemption boards. 1t
Ia not known whether the government
plans TO call double the number Of men
actually needed On the first selection
In order to provide against these ex.
emptions. Possibly only the smaller
number will bs taken, to be filed out
by later selections until the ranks are
full. II the exemptions factor is al
lowed for in the first drawing. 1t seems
likely that a million or a million and
half names would be provided for ut
that time, the men to appear for sx-
animation In the order in which they
were drawn and the cards Of those not
reached in any district where the quota
was filled before they came up before
the board to bo returned.
Another factor which Is being work
ed ont In the selection regulations Is
the provision Of the law requiring that
each State be given credit at the draw
ing for the number of men IL has sup
piled as volunteers in regular army or
tho National Guard.
= Take the York River CheAaDealro Bay