New Britain herald., 1918-06-13
WORK OR WAR RULE i. AS U. s. SEES IT
Draft Boards Receive Complete Instructions From Washington

tAo NANO idle class or who are engaged i'll non- productive employment or occupation is defined in a pamphlet of instruC- tions which has been mailed to Con- necticuts local exemption boards by tho governors office. With the choice of helping to win the war by work ing or fighting, registrants to whom Provost Marshal General Crowder's edict applies have only until July to think it over and act. The publicity committee of the Connecticut State Council of Defense, at the request of the governors office, makes public this article explaining the ''worl or fight" order.
 Citizens to Assist. To begin with, the United States government is depending upon all citi- zens to assist in the enforcement of the new amendments to the selcctive service law. Cooperation of cit- zens has been encouraged for instance in the reporting of German spies and plotters The government says at this time it is the duty of all citizens, not alone those connected with the ad- min1stration of the selective service law, to report to the nearest local board all facts which may come to their knowledge concerning regis ttrants who are idle or who are en- gagged in non- proc oductive employment. Most important to the local boards. TO the registrant who is not apathetic about his relation to the government and lastly to the employer is the off, cial definition of non-productive occu- patton or employment That regis tfants in deferred classes must ren- der effective assistance to the nation either by the type of his work or by entering the military service, is the essence of the "work or fight regu- lations. Explanation is made that in the present emergency it is not pos Slble for the nation to extend the pro- lection of deferred classification to 1egistrants whose work is of the non- productive type.
 Great Demand For Labor. The governments own words on this phase of the regulations concern ing definition of non-productive occu- . patton or employment follow: There is great demand for labor l in all productive occupations and en- ployments, and especially in agricul- 1 ture and other necessary industries Therefore, registrants who have been l given deferred classification and who
 
 1 patton or employment without sub- : stantial financial loss or hardship to themselves or others should be will ing to seek some productive occupa- ton or employment or enter the mil itary service rather than remain in an occupation or employment in which they are rendering no effective as- sistance to the Nation. If a registrant is idle, he, of course, is not occupied or employed | at all, and his status of idIeness fur nishes ground for the withdrawal of his deferred classification or late or der number; and the Regulations ap- ! plicab1e to idle registrants shall be ' deemed applicable also to gamblers of all description and employees of race tracks and bucket shops and to for i tune tellers, clairvoyants, palmists and the like, who, for the purposes of these regulations, shall be considered I as idlers."
 Those occupations which are not considered essential to the winning of the war and which in the present emergency, the government intends to strip of all man power of the army draft age are strictly non- productive. Any registrants engaged at these oc- equations are considered no longer
 
 call into military service notwith- standing the possession of a late or der number or assignment to Class II, III or " on the ground of de- pendency.
 Occupations Affected.
 Local and district boards in com ing to a decision on cases of regis trants engaged in productive la bor have for a guide the provost marshal generals definitions, in the following terms:
 (a) Persons engaged in the serving of food and drink or either in public places. including hotels and social clubs;
 (h) Passenger elevator operators men, carriage peners and other at- tendants in clubs, hotels, stores. apartme office buildings. and bathhouses
 Co Persons including ushers and other attendants engaged and occu- pied in and in connection with games sports, and amusements, excepting ac- fual performers in legitimate con- certs, operas, or theatrical perform Rnces;
 (d) Persons employed in domestic service;
 (d) Sales clerks and other clerks employed in stores and other mercan- tile establishments.
 The second and final article on the sWork or Fight" order will give in formation regarding Reasonable ex- ruse for idleness or productive employment" and the routine to be followed by local exemption boards