The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-03
Montana Men Eager to Get Shot
at Kaiser, Draft Report Shows
Banner State for Waivers of
Exemption Claims Says
CrOwder.
THERMOMETER" OFF
Patriotism Here Is Below
Freezing Point Upon
Chart.

Although Montana has furnished
proportionately fewer volunteers than
many other states, Montana men are
more willing than any others to serve
their country. according to the report
Of Major General r. H. Crowder. PROV
ost marshal general OF the United
States. on the first draft.
Details Of the volum;nous report,
which have just, reached Missoula.
show that Montana ranks first among
the states Of the union in waivers of
exemption claims. Only 1928 per cent
OF the men called in Montana under
the first draft claimed exemption. The
national average was 1905 per cent.
Kentucky had the least creditable rec
ord. Thegc more than so per cent Of
the men Jailed under the draft asked
to be discharged.
Thermomster Not Right.
This record seems to prove that the
Thermometer of Patriotism" ac-
companying General Crowder's report
- not altogether accurate for on this
thermometer Montana Is almost below
the freezing point. The thermometer
u based upon the voluntary enlist
ments from the several states as COM
pared to the draft quotas. Oregon
stands at the top with 1853 volunteers
to every 100 Of the draft quota Mon
tana IL twenty ninth. with practically
~ volunteers for every 100 OF the
quota.
Few Of Montana's volunteers were
credited to the draft quota, however.
The selectiye service law did not credit
the states with enlistments in the naval
service, the marine corps, the federal
reserve corps or the national guard re-
serves. but only with the numbers of
men who were in the military service
Of the United States az members OF the
national guard on April /, 1917, or who
entered the regular army or the ma
tional guard between April and June
50. 1917. 1nasmuch as Montana's M
ttonai guard regiment was small the
state ranks forty eighth in the number
Of enlistments credited to the draft
1 quota. Hawaii led all the states and
territories with Is: credits for every
100 Of the quota.
Montana Healthy State.
The report shows Montana to be one
Of the healthiest states in the union
Fne drift boards of the state were
able to qualify 1921 per cent Of the
men called for physical examination
signifying the fitness Of Montana men
The state was eighth among all the
states. South Dakota led, Qualifying
1857 per cent OF the men examined.
Despite the fact that many Montana
draft boards have been accused OF
paid patriotism" for collecting money
Tor their services. only ten states
handled the draft more economically
than Montana did The cost per capita
OF men certified for service In the
army was 1917 in Montana and $40:
IN the nation as a whole.
Montana draft boards were neither
too strict nor too lenient. apparently.
The state granted s0.41 per cent Of the
exemption claims made, which ap-
proximates the national average of
Sl.7S per cent. Twenty-Five states
were more strict than Montana.
A table giving the more important
draft statistics as they apply to Mon
tana accompanies this article.
Stupendous Achievement.
The report indicates the tremendous
proportions of the task superintended
by General Crowder. Within six
months the United States registered
?.5s6.50s men for military service
called 3.0s2,a49 men, examined them
heard their claims, and accepted L.
t57.a6s for army service.
OF the men registered 1,c43,0S were
aliens. OF these 457,7l3 were called
and 1856 accepted. OF the aliens
1868 were Germans. 23S.16s Austro-
Hungarians. 7.27l Bulgars and 36,O31
Turks. The government accepted a2S
Germans for military service, 1928
Austro- Hungarians, 500 Bulgars and
1900 Turks.
The total cost of the draft was S.
2ll.s65.3s, or $.64 per registrant and
si.93 per man accepted.