New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
Men Not To Be Exempted
Who Married "In Dam
ger" of Cali
Pugilist Fails to
Escape Service
Board Refuses to Consider
Boxing a Necessary
Occupation

Secretary Baker has modified his
theory abou. the status under the draft
Of war bridegrooms. In letter to
Louis Marshall. one of the bittercst as
sailants of Mr.. Bakers lenency toward
the ncwly-weds, the Secretary O. War
explained that 1t was not his desire to
have men who had married when they
were in "immediate danger Of being
drafted" exempted from military SER
VICE.
The second letter from Mr.. Baker OF.
the subject Of "slacker marriages. -
which was read to the members of the
District Board yesterday, was a reply to
communication from Mr.. Marshall,
VINO attempted to point out that Mr.
bakers previous ruling that a marriage
entered into since the draft law passed
was not necessarily "equivocsl" openeo
an easy avenue of escape to shirkers.
Mr.. Bakers letter discussed several
specific examples of "slacker mar
riages' which Mr.. Marshall had cited
Although Mr.. Baker believes no "iron-
clad rule should be laid down, he con-
cuded that he believed that marriages
contracted just after registrants had
received their questionnaires might be
considered Stacker marriages." Mr..
Baker, however, in discussing the case
OF man who married last August,
added that he did not think the date
was a reason for ignoring his claim
of having dependent wife.
Modification Is Slight
All cases of late marriages pending
before the District Board will be con-
!, @,,n leri,t -
letter, which is considered only slight
modification of his earlier communica-
tion
In presenting his claim for exemp-
ton yesterday, Harry Krennelhen. q
pugilist. compelled the members of the
heard to discuss the necessity of prize
hghting in war time. The registrant
asked to be excused from fighting Ger
i.ans. as he was "usefully engaged
mere in combating, the blows of oppos-
ing boXers-and besides, he said. he
had wife whom he had to support.
Meier Steinbrink, who reported on
the case, denied the claim to prestige
ct the prizerng profession, and said
that krennelhen only contributes SEQ
Il month to his wife and does not live
with her. He was certified for military
service.
The board also placed Alfred Glass,
British subject who has taken out
: first papers in the United States,
that it considered it's ruling in
volved hardship. and sent the case to
the adjutant general to suggest that
the strict application of the regula-
tions be waived. Glass came to this
country in December, 1914. He was
born in London, and his parents had
lived in that country about thirty
years when war was declared, but they
were both born in Bavaria and had
never been naturalizcd in Great Brio
ain. According to Alfred Glass, lis
father and his two sons (the regis
trant's brothers), Martin and Herman
were forced out Of business on account
Of technically being enemy aliens. The
elder Glass, it is said, sought refuge
IN America. and now resides in Wee
hawkcn. Herman was interncd, and is
now 1t the Isle Of Man, and Martin was
interned and then deported to Ger
many. according to the registrant, who
also declared that his sisters husband
an unnaturalized German, was in.crned
and his sister deported.
Because of his family tanglcs. Glass
stated that he did not care to fight in
the war, and asked to be exempted on
the ground of being an alien. Accord
ing to the regulations. the fact that he
is a declarant makes him liable to the
draft.
Plato Socrates Papson. editor OF
"kcpauos," Il Greek newspaper, ycstcr-
day sought exemption on the grou Il
of having dependent relatives and OF
being engaged in "mantaining the ma
tional spirit" in this crisis. The Ap
peals Board has not yet come to a Ge
cision on the merits Of Plato Socrates
tapson's claim.