Evening journal., 1917-11-08
STATE DOES WELL
II SELECfIVE DRAFT
Governor Tells Board Mem.
bers v ashingion is Pleased
With Work Done
EXEMPTION CASES
ARE DI CUSSED
special to THE EVENING JOURNAL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del. Nov. Sat the specially
allied meeting here yesterday OF Della
wares exemption board. together with
he chairmen OF the several local
boards and the government attorneys
appointed TO appeal cases. by Governor
Townsend. all the members Of the dis
.rict board were present as well as
hose invited from the local boards and
me attorneys Worthy m ter Of the
Delaware State Grange, ilO ace L. Dill
$50. co, who had also been asked by
Governor Townsend 10 be present. at
tended the meeting IN the interests Of
The farmer and agrlculturist, be having
already taken up the matter Of eXemp-
tlon OF farmers with the authorities
al Washington.
The following communication from
Governor Townsend was read 20 the
district board, outlining the object Of
the meeting and the matters upon
which he desired a hearty co-opera-
tlon OF both district and local eXemp-
tion boards:
State Of Delaware, Executive De-
partment. Dover Del.
To District Board, Local Boards
and Attorneys for the Govern
ment
Gentlemen: In carrying out The
provisions OF the selective service
act Delaware has had very marked
distinction The appointments rep
resent the best Of our citizenship,
chosen as practical business men.
In registration our boards made lt
pos lble for the state to be the nrst
TO report 90 Federal authorities. In
preparation for the selectye draft
our local boards slill held our pO-
sition. Further, the work of the
local boards I'm this instance were
highly commended by the provost
marshal general, there not being a
single error In all their work. so
remarkable was this that General
Crowder wlred-hls generous COM
ment on this record state this
merely TO explain my position Just
now, and any reason for this con-
ference. Naturally. I am anxious
10 maintain this record. and am
thus confident OF your cO-opera-
tion.
In a task OF the proportions upon
which you are working and the
complications necessarily arising
from the changes In the rulings,
there are bound TO be different In
terpretatlons. Thereby, In spite OF
the best intent we may render a
hardship on some OF our citizens
and subject the state to an un-
merlted criticism. You, ] am sure,
agree that II Is imperative that we
prevent this. Thus this conference.
am besieged with letters and petit
lions asking for aid and advice In
the various claims for exemption.
This, as you know, Is entirely with
out my Jurisdiction. While / am
responsible I'm that l recommended
you, you are by appointment acting
solely for the nation. The rosponsi-
bllity is yours. That you are fully
aware of IT'S gravity Is shown by
your interest, sacrifice and work ac-
complished. feel this, however,
that can urge strongly a. CO.
operation between the local boards,
attorneys for the Government and
the district board. You can certain
ly appreciate my interest In this.
/ wish 10 call you attention to the
following for your discussion:
First-Dependent relatives.
Second-Physical exemptions.
Third Occupation.
First-Dependen relatives: There
are several cases, decided by the
local boards which at request Of
district board have been turned TO
attorneys for Investigation. In many
instances the attorneys have passed
upon these, stating that they do not
wish 20 appeal the case. The dis
trict board in turn feels that such
should be done. and have placed
same in my hands for advice. This,
in view of Instructions that eases
are 20 be reopencd only when ap-
peaied. Is a matter for your con-
siderotion and decision. To my
mind here. upon The attorney FOR
the Government rests the response
bllity May I suggest, however.
that you discuss this and reach
some definite agreement az 20
procedure. The locals have the re-
spOnsibiliiy OF the dependent rela-
tives. with the attorneys as a
double check, the same as the dis
trict. have the fun authority In
occupatlOnal exemption My sug-
gestiOn would be an agreement be-
tween all the boards and attorneys
recognizing. or course. the peculiar
responsibility Of the attorneys IN
this particular instance.
SecOnd-physical Eyemption-This
Is merely a matter OF deciding a def
mite policy FOR all the state. The con-
fusion here Is only caused by the
later rulings To simply unity the
practices OF the boards Is all that Is
required here, but such action Is alb
solutely essential.
lhird-This phase OF the work Is
especially serious and perhaps most
ulllcult OF solution. Of these occu-
pa.lohs, mat Of agriculture demands
II sVur atlenOon. The government is
II Nlns LOT Increased crops and acre
"be ana az the same time drafti,g
men TO Interpret the rer1lotio,s
| ana define your duties here win ro
/ cure very careful attention ana i.
/ worthy OF your mos, sa-,..l9 o,'n =
Il thought. You viii recall las, s,.,,ls ,g.is
/ In our drive for increased s..,.ll sl.'us
u we found the problem of Isbor my, .T,' .
III question now is even moro sor,.i..l ,'ie
/ Reports TO this Office show thst az,
/ wheat acreage in Delaware win hs
| less rather than more, which Ia m,
i mind. demands your conslderatlo,