Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-04
ONLY rs MEN ACCEPTED
WHO HAVE NO CLAIMS
FOR EXEMPTION
many GIVE EXCUSES
NEXT ORDER MAY INCLUDE AS
HIGH AS FOLLOWING 1900 NUM-
DERS-TlME OF MAKING CALL
NOT ANNOUNCED.

Another five hundred or possibly
a thousand will be called to fill Dist
rict No Is quota for the new federal
army according to statements freely
made this morning at the high school,
where the last of the first 524 sum
moned to appear before the exemption
board are being examined for service
with the colors.
AT noon today records of the exemp-
tion board showed there was only
net OF rs men fit to take up the arms
OF the nation In defense OF democracy
who passed the physical tests and still
refused to make any exemption claims.
There was a total OF 334 put thru the
army grueling and Of this number but
twenty-five per cent figure greatly
less than government estimates, came
out OF the examination room with a
clean bill Of health and with all ex-
emptions waived.
Today 1S9 men are being overhaul
ed by the medics. II twenty-five per
cent. Of these applicants are secured
there will be net total for the three
days examinations OF forty-seyen more
added to the list who are willing to
70 to war without making any at
tempt to evade service on any Of the
grounds given as suitable for exemp-
tion. This would leave grand total
for the four days Of 122. or shor-
tage, II all exemption claims are ap-
proved, Of 140 OF the districts quota of
262 for the first draft.
That many Of the exemption claims
will be ignored when hearings are
held by the board. is being intimated
In many quarters today. Only close
adherence to federal rules will be
followed and In cases where men are
determined In their efforts to be slack
ers they will be caught In the drag
net and forcibly mustered into the
army. Members of the board are Sc
cretly conducting private inyestiga-
tions on large number of claims that
are thought to be made OF whole
cloth and when the men appear they
be politely told to straighten out
their affairs and get ready for service.
The majority, however, of those
asking release from duty, are men
with dependents. They, in all proba
bility, except In rare cases where
wives have private incomes or other
means of support, will be acted favor
ably upon.
"Some of the claims that are being
made are revolving said a volunteer
aiding in the draft work to Free
Trader-Journal representative. "They
come down here with makeshft ex'
cuses and by SO doing are putting a
premium on patriotism. for one vii
not stand for slackers OF this type
1t Is a bad example for these manly
young fellows at the armory and IN
all parts of the United States, where
boys have given up all to answer theil
country's call. Thank God, they are
in the majority and we can still
praise them for their loyalty and tht
sacrifices they are about to make
but rest assured Stacker Is go
Ing to be a Stacker and he's going tt
do his bit, II we've got to drive hin
into the army. Nothing but the yer!
best Of claims will exempt him. hs
ended with a noticeable swapping o
his jaws and tightening of his lips.
II would not be surprised but tina
we would have to call as many as tn
next fifteen hundred numbers to fiji
out Ottawas quota" said another wh'
Is aiding with the examinations. "A
the present rate Of going there is bu
small possibility Of our obtaining tn
required 262 from this district. ou
Of the young men we have just pass
ed on. You would be surprised a
the number who are turned down b'
cause of physical unfitness."
II don't know when this call wi
be made but It will not come unit
after we have passed upon all the 81
emption claims That is going to be
big task and will require considerabl
time before all the pleas are made b
fore us.
1T may be another two weeks b
fore we can get down to making I'll
second call. We will be guided, I
course, by the figures Of the past thrt
days, and will not call any more tbs
are necessary to flll out the district
quota" he closed