The Washington times., 1917-07-20
STAGE IS SET
LIKE THEATER
FOR DRAWING
Of LOTTERY

CONTINUED from First Psge.)
Of fate, and the glass jar with its
10000 black capsules.
Never before in the history Of war
or peace had there been such pic
ture recorded as the photographers
made for this generation and for pos
terity today.
Senator Chamberlain chairman Of
the Senate Committee on Military AZ
1airs) will draw the next number"
It was announced.
Senator Chamberlain came forward,
was blindfolded, and drew 1922.
Others in Turn.
In turn Chairman Dent, OF the
House Committee on Military Affairs,
Senator Warren, of Wyoming, Repre-
sentative Kahn. of California. Major
General Bliss, acting chief of stan.
Brigadier General Crowder and Adju-
tant General Mccain came blindfold-
ed to the glass container and with
drew numbers that called men to
the colors.
Brigadfer General Crowder, pro-
Vost marshal general, was applauded
by the newspaper men and the spec
tators as he came forward. He has
worked tirelessly in preparation for
the events Of today. Adjutant Gen
sraI Mccain also received a round of
applause.
Congressman Kahn. who led the
fight for the Administrations army
bill in the House, left the room later
with the comment:
Drew u City Man.
q don't know who will go under
the number I drew, I0.21s. but he is a
city man. It's too high for the small
registration districts"
As the eighth number drawn by
officials was called, Secretary Baker
said:
We will now pause a moment while
the photographers remove their APP
paratus. The drawing then will pro-
coed in the prescribed way"
There was an exodus Of the camera
squad and a young man. with a hand
kerchlef tied close over his eyes, was
led to the big glass jar. Maj. Gen.
c. A DevoI, delegated by Secretary
Baker to assume general supervision
over the lottery, walked to the glass
receptacle and began to stir the cap
sules.
He used q long wooden spoon. with
red, white, and blue bunting tied to
the handle.
Around the blindfolded youth a
half dozen clerks grouped themselves.
He reached deep in the pile OF cap
Sules and handed one to the man on
the left
Number Checked Up.
NO. 9S99," said the reader. No.
$685." repeated one of the army of.
ncers stationed at the long table as
recorders. The number went on the
blackboard.
The blindfolded fellow, feeling here
and there in the jar, was John H. Phil.
lips. a student at Princeton University
whose home is in Pittsburgh. After
hal1 an hour he was relieved and an.
other blindfolded young man, Julian
Burrows, of the University Of Michi
gar, with a home in Saginaw, took his
place.
During the lottery the War Depart
ment will use dozens Of students from
the various colleges Of the country,
Couldn't Have Read Them.
Even had their eyes been free &c
see. these college studentT could not
capsules. Each number was writer
on q slip OF paper whose outer sur.
face was painted black. This gave
the heap Of capsules the appearance
of gelatin containers OF dark powder
The first Of the two large black
boards, containing $40 numbers, wa,
6lled at 1915 o'clock.
At the outset the numbers were
read OF at the rate OF eight per min
ute. As the drawing progressed spec:
was gained, and within an hour the
droning voices OF the clerks called of
the numbers at the rate OF thirteen t
fourteen a minute.
Twelve Hours for job.
II the speed OF fourteen per minute
Is maintained it will require abou
twelve hours to complete the drawing
of 10000 numbers.
The scenes that preceded the actua
lottery had about them a thrill tina
brought the superlative nerve ten
Bion as Secretary Baker called tn,
nrst number.
The Secretary OF War arrived a
at o, and with him were other OF
Ulcers to assist at a ceremony 70
which a whole nation waited.
At o, too, the newspaper men and
photographer, a detail OF Capito
police, members Of Congress and mer,
onlookers began the march up -
steps OF the Senate Office building
4 There was order, with suppressed ex
element, inside.
Heavily guarded and under seal tn,
glass jar which held the fate of 81
many American citizens was brough
IN and placed on a little table in from
OF the blackboards.
By this time the room was fllinl
mp and policemen were holding bacl
men and women at the doorway 70
whom there were no seats within
An Wanted q Look
The earlier arrivals all wanted
hook at the glass container with IL
black contents. They wal1ed TO tn
table turned the jar this way ant
that sndeavoring to see a numbel
within some capsule. It was impos
able.