The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-14
MAY RELIEVE REG|SIRlNTS.
GOVERSN1E.NT MAY SELECT MEN
WANTED FOR MILITARY
DUTY.

WANTED FOR MILITARY
DUTY.
Baker Disc!oscs Plan Considered
,scils Senate Committee That Men
Niio Register in Future May Not
Have to Claim Exemption But Have
Status Fixed.
Washington. Aug. 9.-New draft
regulations under which the govern
1nent would do the selecting rather
than leaving it to the resistrant are
under consideration by the war de-
partment. This was disclosed today
i icy Secretary Baker after he had ap-
Deared before the senate military COM
mitteo to urge prompt enactment OF
the new selective service act extend
ing the age limit to include all men
between the ages Of Is and 40.
The war secretary made it plain
that he is not satisfied with the pres
must claim deferred classification, as
many men with dependents hesitate
for patriotic reasons to make such
claims In this connection. Mr.. Baker
said. he was inclined to the opinion
that the marriage relation will in It
self constitute deferred Classification
What MI Baker has in mind is to
lay down a set Of questions which the
registrant would answer and then
have rules which would take care Of
the classification. He is understood
| tl,;c fol q
system.
The discussion on the draft ages be-
fore the senate committee. Mr.. Baker
said. followed much the lines taken by
General March. chief of staff, and
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
The committee he added, did not in
dicate any disposition to question the
necessity for the change, which is
urged so that the war department can
quickly get the men necessary to win
| the war.
| 'eThere was some discussion" Mr..
Rakcr said, .as to whether it was the
intention of the department to extend
| IT,, work or fight order to include
classes Of persons in various preferen-
tial occupations 1 told them there
was no present change of the work
or fight order in contemplation.
said that when l decided the baseball
case thought perhaps other ferns
of amusement and entertainment
might require an extension Of the or
Ger to be on parity with the base
ball situation. But that was not in
their mind.
"Ihey he'd heard from outside
sources that the department was con-
sidering bringing preferential classes,
like lawyers, newspaper men and
others who were not actually engaged
in producing war supplies, under the
ORDER
The committee. Mr.. Baker continu-
ed, was especially interested in the
effect of the extension of the draft
age on colleges and also in the ques-
ton as to whether young men from
| Is up would be drawn indiscrimlnate-
ly in Class 1 or placed in deferred
class by age and drawn later, giving
them some added months to come te
maturity.
"I told the committee" said the war
secretary, ''that no fixed policy has
been determined upon by the depart
ment, Nbut that the purpose was to al
low the president to defer in Class l
the call of the youngest men. nave
always considered, as you perhaps re-
member. that 10 was the proper mini
! mum. and have come to the IS min
| imum only because it seems neces-
sary to get the men,
Because Of the committees visit t.
the war council, Chairman Chamber
lain announced no meeting OF the
committee will be held tomorrow, bur
one will be held next Monday when
an effort will be made to reach ia
vorable report on the bill.
Letters urging the prompt enact
ment of the bill were received today
by Senator Chamberlain and also by
Cha 'rmen Dent Of the house commit
tee rom Governor Manning Of South
Carolina:
Permit me to urge calling tosetl-
er your committee and urge prompt
passage of draft amendment" Govern
or Manning said Tho country de-
mands the speeding up Of the war. IN
South Carolina we have exhaus'en
class one I suppose other States have
similar conditions. Calls for Septem-
Der and later months can not be f!llec
without changes in law. ] desire NJ.
State to fulfill every cali. Delay means
greater and prolonged sacrifice. The
soner we throw greatly increased
forces into the struggle the sooner wi
will win The countr:: demands OF
congress provision for force without
hn.it. Man power is the demand now
Respectfully request prompt ACTON.
Truth Suppressed by German Papers
New York, Aug. S.-The press II
Germany was accused during de-
bate in the Reichstac- OF spreading
false reports regarding Allied
raids on German cities. according lf
| .-rcolUpfl mere