Newport daily independent., 1918-01-12


 or civil engineer of their son, have welcomed the "Questionnaire' sent by the War Department to all men of draft age. At first glance it is fearsome document, especially If one still has a vivid remembrance of ex- animation papers, but it's friendly purpose soon becomes apparenh One might search for lifetime and never find better exposition of the differ ence between the American way of doing things and the Prussian system. GeEiany says Co., Come" Do -ffiis,' or "Est Verboten." The Unit ed States asks, "What have you done" "What can you do?" "What would you like to do?'
 sWould you be willing to take free evening school instruction, fitting you for service in the army before you are called to camp?" is an invi- tation which many lad whose schooling was nipped in the grammar school bud will accept with alacrity.
 The dominating idea back of this wonderful record, the most compre- hensive attempted since Doomsday Book, is the classification of the young manhood of the nation in order thatsit may be turned to the best ac- count, and it brings with it oppor- tunities that might otherwise never have come to these millions of young men. All the young fellows who have been drudging along with little prospect of advance or improvement in the future, perhaps discontented with their lot and resentful because they have never had chance, may know now that Opportunity is knock ing at the door.
 When Uncle Sam asks, What can you do we'll? ?" he relies upon his sons to answer honestly, and in this long Hist nearly every calling under the sun has been set down, but there is another query at the bottom eff the page, that nothing may be overlook ed--"If you are an expert in any oc- cupation not mentioned in these col ums, write it here.
 1 By the time man has answered all these questions he will have made Ia fairly complete inventory of his ac. complishments and supplied a simple history that may be far more elo- uuent than he imagines. When mar gives his calling as that of bricklayel 1 or plumber or lawyer and then oppo- site the words Band instrument writes "Buglep or "Drum"t the eX. pert examiner will know that this IS something that this man does because he likes it. When a man gives his occupation as that of detective, but also qualities as a draftsman, there 1 is a suggestion that this may near something more than a dotted line showing the course of the footprints in the alley leading to the place where the body was found.
 l This war is like no other, and never was there such scope for talents o1 the widest variety. Imagine artists painting road on canvas, showing 8 barren and deserted highway, anc stretching it like an awning for miles and miles over the real road beneath lit where tens of thousands of mer fare marching unseen by the aviators of the enemy. Yet this is one of the simplest of many such undertakings When soldier sees what appears tc Se a dead horse in No-Man's-Lanc
 aich sensIs up no o@fcndilg odor tc cSv~a ',e sussects tFqt it nav con eal I foe &nd fro t st aad investi- etas >seyward Fac .tis. in cam
 t'a@s" who can rake 'tsapoear that ! Sat o6ies of troops 9e being as
 ls arl puos sd in the op- posite direc icn from the place where -ge 1eal offensive is being planned may ce surc of instant fame.
 Many oii the questions ean be dis posed of by simple "Yes" or No" If the man doesn't belong to non- resistance church he doesn't have to tell when it decided against militan- Icy, nor when he oincd. If he isn't a farmer he ~doesr't have to explain the difference between desert claim end stock ranch.
 If he is farmer it will not take long to demonstrate just how neces- ssary he is to the program of in creased production demanded from the agricultural population. The skilled farm laborer is far down in ''- c9'>r'1 There are eight classes
 a... ce called to the col s before him.