The Washington herald., 1918-05-24
UNLIMITED POWER
TO BAKER IN DRAFT;
THREAT TO STACKER
Provost Marshal General
Rules All Young Men
Must Aid.
WAR WORKERS NEEDED
Men Between Il and 81
Must Obtain Vital o.
cupations.

Drastic measures were taken by
the government yesterday to
tighten its hold on men of draft
age.
By amended regulations issued
by Provost Marshal General
Crowder, approximately 10000
men in various lines of occupa-
ton throughout the country were
given to understand that they
must either seek employment in
war industries by July I, or rem
der themselves liable for military
service, regardless of previous
classification or exemption.
Warns Against Departure.
On the heels Of this, Attorney Gen
at the Department Of Justice, gave
sharp warning to men of draft age
seeking to escape service by leaving
the country.
1T has been brought to my atten-
!iOn," said the Attorney General.
that a number of men of conscrip-
tion age have left, and that even now.
occasionally, others are leaving the
country to evade military service.
THE American people. by the pas
sage Of the selective service act, have
texpressed it as their will that the
frr do ohIf1offA 80 off
ship demand, when required, the per-
formance of military service.
''SlackerS of the class above de-
scribed are presumably laboring un-
der the delusion that by securing a
temporary residence in another coun-
try for the dura ton Of the war they
may escape their military obligations,
and upon the termination of the war
may return here to enjoy the fruits
OF sacrifice in which they have had
no part.
when this great struggle is COM
pleted. however. such men on seeking
admission to the United States, will
find that 1t will be necessary for them
to stand trial on indictments charging
them with violations of the selective
service act. These trials will be Wig
orously prosecuted and the maximum
penalty provided by the act will be
urged upon conviction.
The department has at hand infor-
nation from which complete lists may
be prepared of all slackers who have
left this country
Employment Readjusted.
The new order. it is. predicted. will
bring about the greatest readjustment
in employment the country has ever
witnessed. Experts estimate that at
least 10000 men who have been eX-
empted from service because of de-
pendants. or for other reasons, will
be liable TO army service If they fail
to change their present occupations.
Already legal authorities have raised
question of the legality of the rul-
ing, but it is understood that Gen.
Crowder is acting upon the advice Of
some of the nations foremost consti-
tutional authorities.
Under the decision to force all idlers
either to work or fight. the regulation
states that under the classification of
idlers the War Department includes
gamblers OF all descriptions. employees
and attendants of bucket shops, race
track employees. fortune tellers. clair
VoJants, 2almists. and the like.
Some Classes Affected.
Others who must change their en-
ployment or be liable to army serv-
ice are:
Persons engaged in the serving of
food or drink in public places includ-
ing hotels and social clubs.
Passenger elevator operators and
ATTENDANTS nf rIfrhC
apartment houses, Office buildings and
bath houses.
Ushers and other attendants en-
gagged or occupied in and in connec-
ton with games, sports and amuse-
ments, excepting actual performers in
legitimate concerts, operas or theatre
cal performances.
Persons employed in domestic serv-
ice.
Sales clerks and other clerks en-
ployed In stores and other mercantile
establishments.
In effect, the new regulation forces
into war work or army service every
man between the ages of q and 81
and forces employers, race track pro-
motors, and others engaged in nonwar
business enterprises, to conduct their
WIN IeInale laDOr
or with men who are without the
ages designated in the selective sery-
ice act.
Inquiries Pour In.
With the announcement of the
new regulation, inquiries began to
pour in. One of the first questions
asked was whether ball players
would be forced to enter war IN
dustries or join the army. In re-
ply, the following was issued from
General Crowder's' office:
NO ruling as to whether baseball
players or persons engaged in golf,
tennis or any other sport. come un-
der the regulations regarding idIers
and nonessential pursuits, will be
made until specific case has been
appealed to the Provost Marshal
Generals Office" -f... 81,
The new ruling is made for the
primary object of aiding in fore
ing able-bodied men into the pro-
duction of munitions. according to
well informed officials. Although it
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