The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-21
Seventy Afidavits Are
Passed On Up to the
Noon Hour
MANY ALREADY IN
MILITARY SERVICE
Names of Those Disqualifi-
ed for Physical Reasons
Withheld

The Cass county exemp-
ton board began it's work
this morning at s O'Clock,
about 70 claims for exemp-
ton being heard up to the
noon hour, most of them
being afidavits claiming
exemption on the ground of
dependent relatives or mil
itary service.
Out of this number about
25 were exempted or dis
charged under the rules
and regulations prescribed
by the act of Congress and
approved on May 18.
The Forum in printing the list of
names Of those exempted or dis
charged by the board does not pub
lish the names OF the registrants
who have been discharged from the
m
on of physical disability. There were
a number OF such cases this morn
ing.
The work Of the Cass county board
is strictly confidential. A repres-
entative of The Forum asking per-
mission to listen to the claims was
refused by DR.. p. H. Burton. When
transpires between Chairman A. NJ.
Ross. Clerk w. r, Tucker, Dr. p II,
Burton ana sohn Martin tne reps.
resentative OF the government, no
one win know.
As soon. as a claim for exemption,
is accepted or rejected, It is entered
upon a large slip which is then
given to the clerks in the auditors
Office. who at once make out notices
to be sent to the claimants, stat
ing the action taken by the board.
It was found necessary during
the morning to communicate with
several in regard to af1davits for
exemption which were filed with the
board. 1t was the tendency on, the
part of some to hold back informa-
tion. This resulted in an announce
ment from DR.. p. HI. Burton to the
effect that what information is ask
ed by the members of the board and
communicated to them would be
strictly confidential. The Cass coun-
ty exemption board wants to be fair
10 all and in order to do SO is giving
each claim its fullest consideration
and IL there is matter of doubt,
they seek to try and clear 1t by get
ting additional data.
Medical Men Not Exempt.
{: No change has been made in the
war departments ruling with rela-
tion to medical and dental students,
Chairman Luther N. Birdzell of the
state board of exemptions, announ-
ced this morning, and these students
must take their chances in the
draft along with other registrants,
unless an eleventh-ho alternative
be granted.
Soon after the registration the na-
tional council of defense sent cir
cular letters to medical and dental
students urging them not to enlist
but to remain in school and complete
position to be of greater service to
the government in a professional
capacity. Now the time in which
these students may enlist has pass
ed, and the war department has not
changed in their favor the. original
ruling, which holds that no provision
is made for their exemption.
Shortage Hospital Men.
In the Vernacular, medics and
dental surgeons who might have en-
listed and chosen something to their
liking in field hospital or ambulance
companies, now are up against II"
and must take what Is offered them.
This. however, undoubtedly will be
something which swill call into SER
vice their professional ability, as
there is. a great shortage of recruits
for field hospital and ambulance
units.
Judge BirdzelI today expressed the
opinion that every county in the
state will have produced thirty per
cent of its quota by September 5.
In. some instances the number of
men accepted without claims for ex-
emptions may not be found sufiei-
ent, but the lack will be made up by
claimants denied exemptions by the
local and district boards. both OF
which are passing on these claims
with all possible expedition.