The sun., 1918-09-07
MARRIED PATRIOTS
MAY DELAY DRAFT
Provost Marshal General Finds
Many Do Not Intend to
Ask Deferment.
WOULD COMPLICATE TASK
All Registrars Will Be Urged
to Answer eyes" IL They
Have Dependents.
WOULD COMPLICATE TASK
Special Despatch TO TIE Sun.

esses Of the new draft threatens to be
seriously interfered with by the an
nounced intention of many OF those
within the new ages to refuse from mo-
tives OF patriotism and personal pride to
make any request for deferred classical
ton, even though they are the sole pro-
N~ers OF families or are employed in
essential industries.
Since the first draft a wave Of pa
triotism has spread over the country,
and information reaching here is that
under its impulse many registrants are
about to place the entire burden OF their
classification upon the Government,
which Is not what the Government de-
slres This was emphasized to-day at
the Provost Marshal Generals Office.
In the first draft SO per cent. of those
called asked for deferred classification,
and II per cent. of the prayers were
granted, "a per cent. being for depend
ency. The fact that the new age limits
will include much higher proportion
OF married men should increase greatly
the proportion of requests for deferred
classification made in this draft unless
many of the men with dependents fail
to use this as the basis for deferred
classification.
New distractions to he Issued.
To meet this situation and others
which have arisen the Provost Marshal
General Is about to issue important in
structions to be followed by registrants
regarding requests for deferred classfi-
cation.
In these attention will be called to the
fact that they will assist the Govern
ment In speedily classifying them by an
swering the question whether they will
ask exemption or deferred classification
In such manner that the answer gives
the Government an immediate clue as
TO which class they belong
\. The classes l., H., Ill, w and v. are
defined on the first page of the question:
nalre with unmistakable clearness. The
registrant with dependents is expected
by the Government to ask deferred clas-
siheation and state the class to which
he belongs, II his status entities him. to
be placed in that class. He Is not ex-
pected to state that he does not ask de-
ferred classification IL he is entitled to it,
1t is explained that the public. in the
interest of the general welfare and in
the interest of the nations military plan
must not take the position that a patri-
otto service is rendered by refusing to
ask exemption or deferred classification.
The Government and the public will have
its opinion of any man who is placed in
deferred class where he does not be-
long but, on the other hand, the man who
simply states his status frankly and
truthfully fufills his duty and renders
practical patriotic service which is
greater than the service rendered by the
man for reasons of pride or patriotism
states that he does not ask deferred
classification when his status puts him
in deferred class.
Very Few to he in Glass v.
Few OF the $4,000, 600 prospective reg
istrants will be in Glass v. the so-called
exempt class. The others in the first
four classes remain subject to the call to
the colors and do not dodge their respon-
sibilities by giving their status.
Many unwelcome complications are
certain to result If registrants who ex-
rect deferred classification decline to ask
II by answering mo" to the question
DO you claim exemption or deferred
classification?
IN the gigantic process of sorting out
100000 questionnaires to determine
which are class / men and which be-
long 20 deferred classes, the Government
will have to be guided to n large ex-
tent by the answer YES" or mo" on
the first page of each QUESTIONABLE.
The answer no doubt will be taken to
mean that the registrant has no ground
OF whatsoever description for deferred
classification and consequently Is a class
I man.
Because of the necessary speeding up
process 1t is more than likely that men
seeking no deferred classification will be
put. into class ! because the NO" on
the questionable has been regarded as
sufficient indication.
bn
later. which give the registrant the on
portunty of stating his case in detail
probably will not even he read by those
who make the first general assortment
between class ! men and men belonging
in deferred classes. The registrant. there
fore. Is likely to find himself classified
I'm class l and called when his turn
comes.
Complicntes Registrant's Case.
In the case of a man obviously en-
titled 10 deferred classification-a man
with wife and children dependent on his
labor for support-the chance for him
TO have his case examined on its merits
is complicated by the fact that the local
boards have no Jurisdiction over exemn-
ION or deferred classification claims
These are passed upon by the distric,
''' - 'io ittlslTdnt mas made
no claim and II dependents or emplovers
have made no claim for him, the case
does not>even reach the district board
The man entitled to deferred classic
cation, but who has declined 10 cIain,
IT finds himself in an obviously emhar.
RAISING position To have his case ad-
judged he must get il before the district
board and the only means of doing This
Is by appealing from the decision OF the
local board.
Obviously the district board would
SverruIe sn improper classification of a
registrant, but 1t Is necessary for the
appeal 10 be made Thus the reeistrant
is put In more embarrassing position
than ever and has retarded the Govern
ments work, all of which could have
been avoided had he defined his status
accurately at the beginning.
Dependents or employers hmay file
claims for exemption or deferred classi-
fication on behalf Of the registrant and
the Provost Marshal General expects
them to do so II the status of the regis
trant warrants 1t. More detailed infor-
nation concerning occupational exemp-
lions is expected shortly from the Pro-
vost Marshal Generals office.
nEpMAN pTTuEc rnpTrn,c