Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-18
DRAWING MAY COME
THURSDAY NIGHT
SAYS REPORT
SEVEN STATES SLOW
LISTS HAVE NOT BEEN FORWARD.
Ed TO NATIONAL CAPITAL
FROM ILLINOIS AND SIX oTH-
Err COMMONWEALTHS.

Washington, July lS.-Seven delin.
quent states are now delaying the
drafting of the national army of the
United States. Illinois, Kentucky,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New
York and Pennsylvania have failed to
report to Provst Marshall General
Crowder that the organization of the
local boards in these states Ia com.
pleted.
Within a few hours after the last
states reports the draft will be in
progress. General Crowder Is prepar-
ed and has all of the machinery for
the operation of the drawing ready
and locked in safe in the war de.
partment The time of the draft Is
still a matter of conjecture. General
Crowder hopes that it may take place
tomorrow evening, but it may go over
until Friday and even Saturday.
President Wilson has before him
today the working plans of the draft
| anu iC Will ANA llS SI6udluI0 H6 tu0
last official step of preparation.
The place of the draft is also unde-
cided. Up to this time 1t has been
supposed that 1t would be held Ia .
reception room at the war department.
Today. however, so many suggestions
of more public drafting have been
made that 1t is possible It may be held
in one Of the large committee rooms
at the capital and there Is still
chance that the hall of Representa-
tives may be chosen.
General Crowder Is today doing ev-
erything in his power for the rapid
dissemination of the news of the final
drafting. He hopes to be able to per-
feet an organization whereby the mum.
bers drawn may be flashed thruout
the country within few minutes af-
ter they are drawn, altho for the sake
of accuracy it may be necessary to
hold all the numbers until the final
number Is drawn.
Try Politics at Capitol.
Washington, July 1S.-Seekers of
exemption from service in the new
national army are flooding into Wash
ington today with the draft but q
short while distant.
Congressman and public officials are
besieged by men who desire to es-
cape service under the selective draft
and by relatives who have sons and
brothers they do not wish to go to
war. A mistaken idea that exemp-
tions can be gained thru influence"
in Washington has sent hundreds to
the national capital only to be sent
back to their local district boards with
their pleas.
The national government has moth
ing to do with exemptions, and will
have nothing to do with them for
some time, until appeals are finally
brought to President Wilson Until
that time the matter OF exemptions
rests entirely in the hands of the local
boards.
War department surgeons claimed
today that Americas national army
will be the most physically fit body
of men this nation has ever put in the
field of battle
President Wilson has ruled that
the army surgeons shall have the last
say on the physical fitness of drafted
man, and these surgeons are prepared
to cull the mistits carefully
MAKE NEW LIST.
Springfield ILL.,, July 1S-Names Of
persons registered from the 22nd Dist.
rict of Chicago in their serial numbers.
mailed few days ago and lost en-
route are tying up the Ready" report
for all Illinois. big force OF clerks
was put to work this morning making
new list in that district. Colonel
Lang in charge OF State Draft prepara-
tions said Edwards county. which
also has been missing. mailed their
report early this morning
Col Lang hopes to arrange to re.