Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-14
SELECTIVE DRAFT
LAW HAS TEETH

Prison walls and hospital cots will not
prevent males of legal age from being
registered under the new selective draft
law. ConVicts and patients, In common
with thoser who are allowed their liberty
Will nave to step right up, answer the
score or more questions required by the
law and be enrolled OF course If tbev
can't actually step up, they will do so by
proxy But the fact remains that, be-
cause man is in prison or Jail or sick
at home or in a hospital, he is not barre
from being registered.
rms feature. in common with many
others has. been made apparent Nv q
study of the new law Adjutant General
Presson has been burning the midnight
electric juice in getting the machinery
ready SO far as the State is concerned
so that the work of registering those CT
lawful age may be begun Just as soon
as word is received of the passage of the
law. SO far as the State of Maine is
concerned, the operation of this new law
VIII be under the direction of Governor
Mllliken and consequently through the
once OF the adJutant general. The opera
ton of the law in the country as a Who'll.
VIII be under the direction of the provost
marshal, Brig. Gen. Enoch II. Crowder
under the direction of the secretary of
war. Gen. Crowder is the Judge advo.ate
of the I. S. army and the provisions of
the law that have been received bero
come from him.
non. timothy f. Callahan of Lewiston
former State auditor has been DESIGNATED
as disbursng officer under the law bv
Governor Miliken and he will he.i, ~.
duties within day or SO Other o,o,.,.a
VIII also be needed to carry out the work-
ngs of the federal statute.
General Presson has practicable, 49,
pieted his arrangements for putting tho
law into effect. All data on registration
and CONSUMPTION must be kent /, b,s
office including copy of the registration
cards and records
me actual work of registration will be
under the direction of county Registration,
poards which are to consist of the sheriff
the county clerk and the county physi
clan. II there are no county physicians
then the Governor Is to appoint them
The registers of the towns are to he tho
election clerks. Mr. Callahan. as dis
bursting officer. will be called unon 70 ~,
all the bills for the operatio OF the law
IN the towns, counties and State
Ihe ia" Is complicated one 1t is as
tuli c. details as a Walter Scott novel
ana there areemany features about the
measure that will require explanation.
because or the involved nature Of the law
General Presson will hold a number Of
schools Of instruction AS is the case
with all Federal regulations. things vii,
nave to.be done Just right There will be
no deviation from the set rules allowed
me schools Of instruction will either be
heid at the State House or In the various
counties. or perhaps. both. They will.
100, take the place OF blackboard talks
with Illustrations being given from a
sample case Of registration.
About the only thing remaining to be
determined about the law is the age OF
those who are to be registered. Every |
male who comes within the limit will |
have every fact It is possible to get about
him placed on a card. 1t is right here
that the. work will go into iails and
prison and the hospitals. for age and age !
alone is the determining factor Of regis
tration. Later will come the drafting OF
people for military service. In the case
OF sick people and young men In colleges
or universities, provisions are made In the |
law so that facts about them may he |
sent to the registration boards.
There are not many teeth in the law
They are not needed. But there il on.
gigantic molar. This is 1t:
If you are male between the des,r.
mated ages. you are subject to reeistra-
ton on the day fixed by the President
and II you fail to present yourself or
presenting yourself, you give false. mis-.
leading. or incorrect answers, you are
and subject to n,p,,h-