Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-19
New Man-P Power Bill Does Not
Include General Exemption
OF All Men Who Are Married
Not More Than Six Months
Training Necessary, Says
Baker-Yo Youths Would be
Held in Reserve ) Until
Needed - Enlistnents in
Navy and Marine Corps
May be Accepted.

cause Of their married status Is con-
templated by the war department in
preparing for the proposed extension
of draft ages. Secretary Baker de-
clared today in statement before
the house military committee on the
Mr.: Baker said his previous re-
marks on this subject had been mis-
construed, and that married men who
who are not engaged In useful occu-
pationsa will continue to be called.
There are many married men In the
country who ought to go and fight as
freely as single men," he added.
The war secretary. with General
March and provost marshal General
committee at the opening hearing to
reiterate their explanation given that
immediate enactment of the man
power bill is imperative in order to
carry out the enlarged war program.
There are two ways of lpfosecut-
ing this war" Mr.. Baker said. zone
way is to. make every possible effort
to do it now and the other is to pro-
coed somewhat more leisurely and do
1t late. The obvious advantage from
every standpoint, social, military, In
every effort in this country and win
the war as soon as possible.
Separate Glass for Youths.
Leaving an explanation of the man.
power situation to General Crowder.
the secretary announced that because
of objections to calling boys of 18 he
had planned to defer their call as
long as possible and would not object
to- placing a provision in the bill max
ing a separate class of men between
18 and 19 years and for deferring
calling them 'as far as practicable
until after others in class one had
been exhausted.
There is "a sentiment in this COM
mfttee." said Mr.. Baker. II don't
know how large against calling men
as young as 1S unless it Is absolutely
necessary. /, think the sentiment Of
the country is to get all the men nec-
fssary. But from the. hegipEingl- n
have planned, as a matter of reglla-
tion to have men from 1S to 19 put
In separate. class with q view to de-
ferring their call until it is neces-
sary."
He. added that this preference
might we'll be left to executive reg
ulations but he would haye no OBJ
lection to having a specific provision
written into the bill.
Regarding exemption Of married
men, Secretary Baker was closely. ex-
amined by committee members. Rep
resentative Tilson, of Connecticut
suggested that many men are being
married to evade the new draft and
that the bill should provide that those
married after the bill was introduced
should not be exempt. Mr.. Baker
said such rigid provisions of the
law was unnecessary; that the depart
ment could disregard all marriages
made to evade the new law.
Six Months of Training.
As to how long before men called
under the new law will go across, Mr..
Baker said not more than six months
training would be. given at home.
In extending the draft ages, Sec
retary, Baker said suspension Of aca-
demic education is an "Unsolved
problem Of the situation, and that
it would be most unfortunate to have
He believed there still would be
many youths left at school but was
against exemption Of college students
as a class, as thoroughly undemo-
cratic
Scientifically trained experts. how
ever, are needed and education of
such men must be continued to an
extent. Men injured in the, war will
be sent to colleges after they recover,
the, secretary explained and thus to
some extent fill up academic institu-
tlons. Regarding present exemption
of divinity students. he said, their
draft for army chaplains is being
To Raise 2,soo, 900 Men.
General Crowder interjected that
the new program is expected to raise
100000 men by June 80, 1919, and
that It is proposed to call 100000
men by that time.
On the. question Of volunteer en-
listments, which some committee
members said should be discontinued
for the navy and ma1ine corps al
well as the army, If the new bill il
passed, Mr. Baker said the navy>6p.
poses prohibiting volunteer enlist.
ment and he had withheld an expires.
sion of opinion He pointed out
however. that the bill would place
control Of the war department and
that 1t would be possible for him and
Secretary Daniels to work out II
harmony q program to supply men
for the navy branch, and also the
merchant ship service. a
Representative Caldwell Of New
York suggested that the army pro.
vide for enlistment Of women to dc
non-combatant work as is done by
the navy and Mr.. Baker said 90 fal
the army uses for such service mer
drafted and not aualified for militar,
duty. 81 q +, !.
Regarding supplanting young Of.
ficers for non-combatant duty by
older men, Secretary. Baker said al
young officers capable ,of military
duty are being relieved las far as pos.
sible.A He added that youths IN col
leges who are drafted if retained
there for training, will be put into
uniform. 81. q 4; hi \.
Thomas Amendment o. X
1 Turning to the Thomas work ol
fight'' amendment, added to the bill
by the senate COMMITTEES, the secre-
tary5 said he could pee no objection
I. to II inSxlew Of the fact that the regu.
lations of the presid ents are to be re-
lied upon to carry it into effect
Regarding Its provisions for reyokine
deferred classif cation for men who
retuse to work. he added: IA
That seems to me to be entirely
ia ii. case of d strike. Ne said. b the
pr1sident could determine whether
] fsnspsnsion OF work was .'iii good
Continued On Pare 81 Ell I'll