The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-04
Red Cross and Similar Workers
Not To Be Drafted.
Rulings Are Much Broader
Than Heretofore.
LARGELY UP TO LOCAL BOARDS
They Will. Pass on Merits of
Individual Cases.
No Exemptions To. Be Granted
Unless Claimed.

Washington, Sept 4.-Much broader
grounds for the establishment of
claims for exemption from military
service are provided in new regula-
tions now being worked out by Pro-
vost Marshal General Crowder tc gov
ern the classification of men between
1S and As who will register on Sep
tember 12. Important notifications
are based upon the change of a few
words in the original draft law made
in passing the new man-power act.
The term industrial occupation" is
eliminated and the law now provides
persons may be given deferred classi-
ficattpn when engaged in occupation
or employment, including agriculture,
which can be established as necessary
to the military establishment or the
maintenance of the national interest"
Bankers Exempt.
The section officials pointed out to-
day, with the regulations constituting
it. will definitely allow district exemp-
! ton boards to exempt bankers and es-
sential bank employees, men engaged
in necessary commercial enterprises
and necessary workers for the Red
Cross and kindred organizations.
The regulations will not attempt
rcgistrants who shall be entitled to ex-
cmption but will allow the boards to
work out the details. after the author
fza ton has been given them. 1t was
said that the regulations would
strafghten out completc'y a situation
! al ising since district boards in vari-
ous localities have ruled under the old
law that railroads and banks are not
ir dustries and that an importer of
necessary war materials and his staff
are not engaged in industry Since
Tie requirement that a man exempted
because OF his occupation must be of
such importance as to threaten the
continuance of the -nterprise to which
ne is attached has been retained, how
ever. the sum total of exemptions is
not expect d to seriously affect the net
maHpower which will finally be placed
in class 1.
b. Advisers To Be Provided.
.SDistrict- boards in applying occupa-
fipnakexemption regulations will have
the assistance of three advisers. in
dustr1al. commercial and agricultural.
VINO are now being nominated in every
district Only minor changes are in
corporated in the revised question
! naire which the registrants of Sep
tember II will be required to fill out.
1t strikes out the requirement that city
police and firemen be in service three
, years before being entitled to deferred
Classification. and allows them to be
| placed in class. 3 without regard to
their length of service. 1T esta blishes
also three. new divisions in class s.
exempting automatically persons dis
charged from military or naval service
upon ground of alienage or upon
! diplomatic request" persons who are
| citizens of countries co-belligerent
! with the United States who come un-
! der treaty arrangements entailins
| their service at home and citizens OF
| neutral countries who have withdrawn
| declarations of their intention to be-
come citizens The QUESTIONABLE still
| requires each registrant who desires
| exemption to make formal claim and
present detailed facts substa Mt ia ting If