The Washington times., 1917-07-20
of the Uniforms"

such that each registered man was
drawn: the difference is in the order
in which they will be called.
That is, the first number drawn by
Secretary Bake rwIll call out all men
numbered 25s in the more than 5000
registration districts. They are the
first to go. The men represented by
the last number drawn will remain at
home until the last quota is called.
They may never go to France: hence
the possible fate of every man,
whether of life or death, of heroic
service performed without the sacri-
fee OF blood, OF security at homo
thousands Of miles from the firing
line, depended today upon the pri-
GRITTY of the numbers drawn.
No greater gamble, in the name OF
patriotism, national service or mere
chance, has ever been conducted since
man was created and wars began to
devastate the world.
I'VE are met" said Secretary Baker
just before he was blindfolded, "to
conduct a lottery or draft by which
the national army. or such additions
TO the regular army or national guard
as may be necessary to bring them
to war strength. are to be selected.
This is an occasion Of very great
dignity and some solemnIty. II rep
resents the first application of a prin-
ciple believed by many OF us to be
thoroughly democratic. equal and fair
in the selection of soldiers to defend
the national honor abroad and at
home.
II shall not undertake here to de-
scribe the mechanics OF the drawing
but 1t is very simple and has been
designed to preserve the utmost fair
ness in the selections"
Secretary Baker called attention to
the presence OF the Senate and House
Committees on Military Affairs as an
additional guarantee OF the fairness
OF the drawing. He introduced Cen
eral Crowder. who explained briefly
the plans worked out by the War De-
partment for the lottery which is to
send a great American army to
France.
After that Secretary Baker drew
number 25S and then at the rate OF
ten to fifteen per minute the destinies
Of Americas young men were shaped
by a man blindfolded and knowing
nothing OF the numbers which he
drew.
The stirring of the capsules by
General Devol was one OF the dra-
matte touches OF the ceremonial. No
five minutes elapsed but that General
Devol, walking restlessly about the
room, approached the glass jar. He
pushed the number tellers gently
aside, took the long wooden spoon
and stirred the capsules from bottom
to top and top to bottom again.
Thus was the game Of hide and
seek with capsules carried on and
thus did mere fortune determine
whether a number should be last or
| first.
BIaekbOards in Room.
At the northern end OF the room,
swinging entirely around the tables
just In front. were several black.
boards, each about the height OF a
man. As these boards were filled
with the numbers as called a pho
tographer made ready to photograph
them for a permanent record.
| Along the eastern wall OF the room
were tables placed end to end to &C
commodate the press. There was
local interest" and human inter.
est" within the room for every news
paper in the United States and the
/ news writers worked today at a pace
| one seldom knows. Outside the press
! associations had their leased wires
| Within sixty seconds after a number
was called the message 1t conveyed to