The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-19

question is not who shall go first p
but who shall be first called up for
examination?' and what we must do is
to make list showing the order of
examination.
! Now no one knows how many men
must be examined to yield $4,000 SOL
dierS. Therefore, no one can say just
! how many men it is absolutely neces-
sary to put on this list.
"A moments reflection will prove
that the whole 100000 must be
given their places on the list of or
der of examination
Every registered man is in state
of uncertainty. He does not know
! when he will be called. He hesitates
to plant crop for fear he will not
reap it. Employers hesitate to en-
gage his services, fearing they will be
but temporary This condition ought
! to be cured for the repose of the pub
lie interest. 1t can be cured to some
! extent by putting every man on the
list.
For this reason the whole 10000
900 names are to be given places on
, the list of order of examination.
! The Segregation Into Groups.
( obviously no single agency could
! examine 100000 men. Therefore.
the 100000 are segregated into
/ groups of suitable size for convenient
examination. There are 4,557 of these
groups. For each group a board has
been appointed to examine for selec-
ton. By far the greater number of
these groups consist of approximately
5000 men.
"Since this is so, our problem is not
| to put the whole 100000 names in
one list arranged in the order of ex-
animation. 1t is to determine the or
der of examination in each group.
The Necessity for Drawing.
''Since all registered men stand in
Low .Grwl.A
question of priority can only be deter
mined by lot or drawing. 1t would
be possible to have Asst separate
/ drawings-one for each group-but
since methods would vary and since
supervision and absolute insurance
I against the charge of fraudulent
manipulation could not be had in that
way, every consideration of expedi-
ency and justice urges on drawing in
! Washington.
The Method for the Drawing.
I'm each group, every registration
card has a red linked number written
on its face and these numbers run in
a single series from unity Cd to the
number corresponding to the greatest
number of cards in the group. Nor
mally this is from unity % to about
5000.
Exact copies of the cards in each
group have been attested and sent to
the various state capitals. Lists show
group and the serial number of his
card have been posted in the office OF
the board, published in the press, and
one copy is on file in Washington.
There is, therefore, no chance of any
mans number being changed without
detection, or of any card being lost
beyond replacement.
The Idea of the Central Drawing.
Suppose there were just 5000
names and numbers in every group
, 1t is at once apparent that it would
be very simple thing to have a GEN.
trail drawing that would control the
order of every name and number in
/ every group of the whole 10, 900 600
just put 5000 numbers into bowl
and draw them out one at a time This
first number drawn out would place
the 1857 cards bearing that particu-
lar number at the head of every list
in the United States. The second mum
: Der drawn would put the cards bear
ing that number second on all the
lists and so forth.
Now the thing cannot be done in
precisely this way. because there are
not precisely 1000 numbers in every
group But the same idea with g
few necessary notifications is the
idea on which the present drawing is
based.
! The Drawing by Thousands.
ITO draw 10000 separate number.
| would take ten hours and would null
| uply the chance of error. Moreover
If the "9-thousands,' the "S-thou
sands,' the "7-thousands'' and the
"6-thousands'' were scattered all ovel
D the master list indiscriminately the
I cancellation by boards having small
j groups would be very tedious ant
I would open the way to numerous err
n rors. All this is easily avoided
Suppose we drew only 1000 mum
y bers. We could then provide that tn,
= drawing of the number SIS woult
r also draw the numbers 1878, 2,S7S
y ISIS, 4.S7s, 5,S7S, 6,S7S, 1878, S,s7;
:, and 9,S7S.
v In that way only 1000 number
d need be drawn, and by making gu
: master list consist of one sheet TO
:. each 1000 we could provide maste