New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-07
States Rapidly Completing
Machinery for Selection
Under Consumption
May Use Jury Wheel
A. Each Number Is Taken
Out 10000 Men Will Be
Called to Colors

Washington, July 6.-Selection day
for the new National Army is approach
ing rapidly as the local exemption
boards in the various states complete
their organization. give serial numbers
to the registration cards and forward
certified copies to Provost Marshal
General Crowder. Indications are that
tho drawing will be held next week
but no official statement has been made
as to the War Departments plans.
While Administration officials still
maintain strict silence as to the
method to be followed, the recent
statement by Secretary Baker that the
drawing would be held in Washington
coupled with the stress laid upon the
serial numbering of registration cards.
gives an indication. Of the general out
line OF the plan.
One Number for 10000
II il understood that it is proposed
10 place in a single jury wheel IN
Washington one complete set OF num-
hers. When a number is taken from
the wheel the man in each exemption
district whose card bears that serial
number will be drafted. Thus, as each
number is drawn, approximately 3O,ooo
men will be drafted, or one in each eN-
omption district; il 100000 men are
to be called before the exemption
boards in the first selection, which
seems highly probable, only forty num-
bers would need to be drawn.
There are numerous complications
which must arise, however, and the
method Of solving them can be known
only when the Administration makes
known its plan in detail. For instance,
the number Of registered individual
in each district who are liable for mill
tsrv service will certainly not be the
same. Aliens are registered, but not
luble for duty. All this must he con
gidered in framing tho regulations
Provision must be made also to balance
a. far as possible the chances OF mill
tarv duty between tho men in each DIS
t1ict. so that disqualification Of large
rumber in any particular district Tor
any reason will not put upon those
qualified additional likelihood of being
sent TO the front.
Wilson Considers Method
Various ways of accomplishing this
correction Of chances % as to make the
resulting draft as fair as human IN
eenuity can contrive have been sug-
rested. The matter has had President
Wilson's personal consideration, IN line
with his pledge that the method en-
ploved would be Just IN every respect
While the first contingent Of the new
army under the bill is limited to 100000
men. an additional l25.000 or 100000
will be needed TO make up the reserve
hattalions of this force. Reserve bat
tslions are now being recruited for all
regular regiments and will be recruited
for the National Guard when 1t is
drafted into the Federal service. The
organization Of the National Army will
be on the same basis.
There is one other consideration
which will affect the total number of
men to he drawn. Opinion varies as %
the number Of exemptions which must
be made for the various causes outlined
in the exemption regulations A rough
estimate Of at least 30 per cent eX-
emptions for physical or other reasons
has been generally employed in com
putting the probable size of the task be-
fore the exemption boards.
II is not known whether the govern
ment plans to call double the number
of men actually needed on the first
selection in order to provide against
those exemptions. Possibly only the
smaller number will he taken. 10 be
filled out by later selections. II the ex-
omption factor is considered for the frs,
drafting however, it'seems likely that
a million or million and half names
would be provided for ut that time. the
men 10 appear for examination i'm the
order in which they were drawn.