Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-06
PLANS MADE TO
MODIFY DRAFT
REGULATIONS
Would Put Those Not En-
gagged in Productive Pur-.
suits into Army. e. ,

w Aprl 6.-lJraStlC mod
ification of the' draft CLASSIFICATION
or another the status of every one Of
the millions of registered men is pro-
posed in a plan submitted to President
Wilson today by officials Of the pro-
vost marshal generals office and the
department of labor. While the pri-
mary purpose Of the new program
is the Qualification of the second,
third, and fourth classes of registrants
who are not engaged in any produce
given to lower sections Of Glass !,
and the effect it's trainers believe
would be to solve the nations labor
problem and largely increase the out
put Of the necessities Of life.
The proposal would utilize the draft
machinery for putting industrial
sldckers to work. Every registered
man who has been granted deferred
classification would be given to >nn-
derstand that such deferment is not
a legal right. but a privilege. and that
privilege it will be summarily revoked.
To Survey Glass I.
IT is proposed to make a most care
full survey Of the lower sections} OF
Glass \. and of other classes. TO iden-
,tify those mep who are idlers or who
are gaining their living through unde-
sirable or HARMFUL pursuits. Under
the latter head. officials suggest.
might be listed gamblers. bookmakers
for races. poolroom touts and others.
Formal notification would be served
upon the men that unless. within a
specified time, they obtained employ
ment in some useful industry. they
would have their classified status
changed so as to send them into mill
,itary service Immediately.
[ The status Of men on the classified
lists. both in Class and In the de-
3ferred, classes. in the &opintQnso the
would be improved. Delinquents who
did not heed the warming would be
indicted into the military service. ere-
ducing the number Of men to be called
from Glass 1. This would operate to
DELAY still further the date when the
services Of men in Class 2 might be
needed. This. fact is expected to
draw to the aid of the "purificat,on.'
relatives and friends, of boys. whofare
about to be called.
The plan lis not designed to inter-
fere with the so-calleH non-essentfal
industries. These may be affected to
some slight degree. but Officials, So
ouch injury would be offset man.
times e by the resulting NATIONAL
good from the augmented labor sup.
ply and the greatly increased pro.
duction 81. essentials. 4
Administration officials who' have
participatef in the preparation OF
the plan declare that the next steI
would he to obtain authority for%tht
industrial classification of the mar
power Of the country up toHthe, age o
so years. .
TO make the program frllv effect
i've IT. is intended to utilize the, existtn'
local boards virtually as employment
agencies for their districts. Accurate
Ireports would be kept as to the vacan
cies existing in the reikhborhoodl AM
when a mar was informed that j.
must seek AZ useful occupa ton h,
would he told just where such a n1dl
:. his rr.e-tionnaire shows him to- b
was needed.
That determined ~oppoAit,on to tn,
lplan will | develop In some Tlarter
has Seen foreseen. The effect upol
the labor market Of the addition o
Inrany thrlsands Of >shle-bodied work
sers might be TO reduce the presen
-rn.xe scales. The economic. ,ba1anc
will be kept even, however. %acc0rdin,
10 the rh4rnDtprs ut the fprogram b,
I tho reduction in the cost-of life
l~necersities through Increased Putpu
md the improved situation Of the dol
liar In Interest exchange. No fndica
ton has been given OF the att'thd
Il which President Wilson III viii take
Though army officials are gconfident h
will give his approval.