The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-10
Under New Law No One Will
Ask Exemption.
It VIII Be Given Without Con-
suIting Draftee.
"BOYS OF 18 NOT TOO YOUNG"
Said the Secretary to the Sem
ate Committee.
They VIII Be Reserved in Def
erence to Public Opinion.


regulations. under which the govern
ment would do the selecting, rather
than leaving it to the registrant, are
under consideration by the war de-
partment This was disclosed by Sec
rotary Baker, after he had appeared
before the senate military committee
to urge prompt enactment of the new
selective service act extending the age
limits to include all men between the
ages of IS and As. 1
Not Satisfied With System.
The war secretary made it plain that
he is not satisfied with the present
system under which the registrant
must claim deferred classification. as
many men with dependents hesitate.
for patriotic reasons to make such q
claim. In this connection, Mr.. Baker
said, he was inclined to the opinion
that the marriage relation will, in
itself, constitute deferred classified
ton.
Exemption without Asking.
What Mr.. Baker has in mind is to
lay down set of questions which the
registrant would answer and then
hafe rules which would take care of
the classification. He is understood
to regard this as the fair and equit-
able 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 indicate
any disposition to question the ne
cessity for the change, which is urged
so that the war department can
quickly secure the men necessary to
win the war.
VIII Not Extend 'EWork or Fight"
There was some discussion" Mr..
Baker said, ''as to whether it was the
intention of the department to extend
the work or fight order to include
classes of persons in various profess
sional occupations. 1 told them there
was no present change of the work or
fight order in contemplation. 1 said
that when I decided the baseball case.
1 thought perhaps other forms of
amusement and entertainment might
require an extension of the order to-
be on q parity with the baseball situa-
ton. but that was not in their mind.
They had heard from outside sources
that the department was considering
bringing professional classes, like
lawyers, newspaper men, and others
producing war supplies, under the or
der"
Boys Will Be Called Last.
The committee. Mr.. Baker con-
tinued, was especially interested in the
effect of the extension of the draft
ages on colleges and also in the ques-
ton as to whether young men from Is
up would be drawn unfortunately
in class 1 or placed in a deferred
class by age and drawn later, giving
them some added months to come to
maturity.
81 told the committee" said the war
secretary, that no fixed policy had
been determined upon by the depart
ment, but that the purpose was to
allow the president to defer in class
the call of the youngest men have
always considered, as You perhaps re-
minimum and 1 have come to the IS
minimum only because it seems neces-
sary to get the men.
Says Boys of 1S Not Too Young.
mot that 1 think men of Is are
necessarily too young, because 1 do
not think that. I think that history
shows that boys from Is to 10 are i'm
mensely valuable, as valuable, per-
haps, as from IS to 20; but L think
there is a sentiment in the country
which will look with very much more
anxious regard on the boys from IS to
10 than the boys from 10 to 20.
Eighteen years seem to many people a
more tender age than 10. and it is for
that reason that we are thinking of
making this preferential deferment of
men from 1 8 to 49,"
Wants Registration September 5.
Senators said that in urging speedy
enactment of the new man-power leg
islation. Mr. Baker had left to the
judgment OF congressional leaders the
question of recalling the senate in ses-
sion before the expiration of the re-
cess program, August 20, because the
leaders are more familiar with the
legislative program than is the secre-
tary.
Mr.. Baker told the committee, sena-
tors said. that the department wanted
to carry out the plan of registering the
men September 5, so that class l could
be resupp,ied- The present reservoir
soon will be exhausted, and it was
said that 81 her the size of the monthly
calls must be reduced or men taken
from the deferred classes
ALAR d ATE0PAAC