The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-18


Congress enacted a law directing
us to draft men according to the
population OF the states" was the
issued at the Crowder Of
fee.
The census bureau furnished the
population figures. We assigned the
quotas. That's all we had to do. We
merely obeyed the letter of the law
n are willing to demonstrate all
the processes by which we followed
it. We have nothing to do with any
of the makeup OF the popu-
lstion. That is beyond our realm"
Meanwhile other branches of the
war department were hurriedly APP
plying TO the department of state for
a ruling on whether aliens in this
country could be drafted.
A forecast of the state departments
decision follows:
n alien who has not taken out
his first papers can be drafted. Italian
and japanese citizens are exempted
especially by treaty.
Enemy aliens naturally cannot be
drafted and neither. can aliens of ma
tions not at war with the United
States, but the fighting as allies OF
Germany.
THE United States cannot permit
''T 'fttott NAtilfii ~ Dol uCIS VI SUI
jects OF foreign countries for the pur-
pose of serving In the armies of those
countries, even though they be nations
with which the United States is max
ing common war"
The final paragraph applies to draft
ing by England. France. Russia, Italy
or other entente nations of their sub
jects resident in this country. Eng
land is recruiting British citizens hero
for war duty. but this is purely a
voluntary proposition without a sign
of compulsion. Even to permit this
had to enact 2 special law.
After Foreign Slackers.
Despite this opinion by the state
department, the senate moved to
eaualize the quotas and at the anne
time make foreign slackers in this
country do military service.
Foreign slackers in this country
should fear that after all they will
be sent to the trenches. Two meas
ures aimed at them were framed in
the senate today. One was actually
introduced.
Senator Chamberlain has a resolu-
ton providing that all citizens Of for
countries who have been in this
country more than a year and are OF
draftable age shall be liable. Excep-
'lofiS are Oh course dIlFn enemies ana
also those men who declared their in
tention to become citizens In addi-
ton citizens OF countries which have
treaties f~orhidding such action viii
he exempted. The only two large ma
tions which ave such treaties are
Italy n Japan.
The aliens in his country who
would be made subject to draft would
be given thirty days to return to their
own lands. where naturally they
might again he subject to the draft.
The McCumher resolution alleges
that II is most unjust" to ask n
require the American people 10 sacri-
fce men. when aliens enjoy in his
country the special and wonderful
industrial opportunities which this war
affords them and are wholly relieved
from service or sacrifice"
Catch Simon Pure Shakers.
The two resolutions are designed
entirely 10 catch the simon pure
siackers. They propose in part to re-
adjust the nopulation. of states for
a liquidation. ,for. the draft, quota.
Drafting aliens may add 1000. 900
men.
On June ! there were some 1850
600 aliens in this country exclusive OF
alien enemies.
II rs estimated that the OF
the Cham berlain resolution would ada
more than one million men liable to
the draft.
The June s registration showed
l.23s,ss5 aliens other than Germans
between the ages OF twenty-one and
thirty-one in the United States.
when General Crowder's once
closed his evening only eight states
had not reported their serial lists az
complete. Ohio. Utah and Alabama
sent in their cards today while Of
the eight remaining. New York sent a
telegram stating that 1t would be
ready by midnight.
The states outside of New York
which have not yet reported are ILL.,
nois. Michigan. Mississippi. Missouri,
Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Reports indicate that all the states
have finished their work by tomorrow
night. This opened the possibility
for the draft being set for Thursday
and Friday. but the best indications
tonight were that the date would re-
main set for Saturday.
Every means is being taken by the
government to expedite the
ment OF the numbers drawn so that
ach registered nan no matter where
he lives NAV know within a few hours
al the most Wnether or not ne has
been called in the first $4,000.
1t became increasingly evident to-
day hat exemptions will be few and
far between. Physical deficiency alone
will be n complete reason for ex-
emption. a II exemptions based on
dependency will be closely Investigated
while Industrial and similar claims
will not even he considered by the
boards.
Instructions Prepared.
Instructions to his effect have al
ready been prepared and sent to the
boards. The local boards will take
up questions OF physical fitness and
in sufficiently large districts to
remove them from danger OF local in
being brought to bear will
take up all other claims.
A man claiming exemption for in
reasons will have two things
to prove:
i. That he Is engaged In work vi
tally necessary to the prosecution OF
the war or to the we'll being Of the
government.
2. That he himself Is a vital factor
In carrying on the work.
All applications for exemption
whether made by the man himself or
by his employers. must be accom-
panied nv cop1pYato stafa~a~ts P,II