The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-19
EFFECT OF DRAFT
 ON BUSINESS MEN
By HOLLAND

New York, August 18.-(Special. )--As 1t Is in New York, so also in other parts of the country, the certainty that Congress will enact the new draft law making the ages from 13 to 45, inclusive, the basis or the draft has occasioned a great deal or concern and some confusion The wonder is how this new law is to affect partner ships, professional employment and taa men who are engaged in various indus tries which are by themselves presumably not be classed as essentials. In New York city there are many law firms the partners in which are men under 45 years of age. Some of these have been sue cessfully established for 15 or 20 years. If the partners who are under 46 are tn be included in the draft, as presumably they may be. this undoubtedly will lead to the dissolution of the firms and possl- bly to considerable impairment or disar- rangement of business.
 According to reports received from Washington farmers, school teachers ana clergymen are to be exempted. Presum- ably also the men who are employed ID important industries will be tentatively exempted, at least, but the question is what will be the effect of the law if Con- gross enacts it, upon office employees. For instance, in one of the largest or American industries there is an officer who receives a large salary in payment of his responsible work in an important department of that industry. He is 4s years of age He is a director in corpor- ations, some of which are occupied in furnishing the government with greatv needed material. yet he is not an lnuus trial worker and he is inclined to thiux that the draft board may. after he has registered, compel him to enter serv1ce of one kind or another under the govern ment.
 Yet if this officer were to be drafted into service his loss to the company would be serious matter. He Is . very high expert upon certain financial sup. jects. And there are few who are com petent to do the work which he nas so successfully performed for some years.
 Reports from Washington intimate that the President, to whom discretionary power will be given will not call upon the men who are between IS and 2l unless the war be prolonged and the services ot those men are needed. If the President so acts, then he must turn at once to the men who are in excess of Il years or az and un der 46 Undoubtedly the effect or the proposed draft, when it is enac.eo into law will: be seriously felt in all lines eof business Nevertheless the govern- ment hopes so to put this law into opera tion a not to enforce undue hardshlps Already some of the business men m New York. and it is understood In other parts If the country. are preparing to volunteer or to enter service before being drafted. feeling that there may be some advantage H. doing this
 CURTAILMENT OF INDUSTRY ,
 In some departments of industry the curtailment of labor is already produs- ing serious results. That Is understood to be true of the rapid transit system of New York. because more and more of the employees are being tempted to munl tion plants and shipyards. partly beca use of better wages and partly because they can in that way escape some of the pro visions ot the new draft law. This hs-s been followed by a peculiar result. Jusr as the new rapid transit system of New York. the largest of its kind in the world. capable of handling several million ras- sensers day. is completed, there comsa Information that the advantages thus gained are likely to b. impaired by rea ron of the departures of the eznploysss who have been tempted to accept employ ynent Tn intuition factories and sh4p- yards. This has made 1t necessAry not only to reduce the number of trains, some of which were expected to run on . min. ute haaiway. but also to reduce the mum. Dor of cArs upon each train.
 { Itsis nc of the mest gratifying of the five 'enactnncnt Of the new draft law tha. no one hoars any complaint nor Of Any5 dispositiau to shifk the respondhiiAt9s S( t (. A. 'Rs if }4 K 4