The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-11-01
DISTRICT BOARD DEFINES
WORK OR FIGHT RULES
Non Essential and Essential 0ccu-
pations Defined by Board.

members of this Board it is apparent
that there is some misunderstanding
and confusion with regard to the law
pertaining to the so-called Work or
Fight" regulations, and the Board
deems it advisable, for the informa-
tion Of the general public. to briefly
comment upon the work or fight rule
insofar as the Federal law is con-
cerned.
The work or fight rules are es-
tablished by the Selective Service
regulations prescribed by the Presi-
dent, under authority vested in him
by Act of Congress.
Section .121-A of these regulations
makes it the duty of ell persons to
report to the nearest Local Board
all facts that may come to their
knowledge concerning all registrants
who are idle, or who are engaged in
occupations or employments defined
by the regulations as non-productive.
1t is further provided that no
change of classification shall be
made, under the worA or fight regu-
lations, until the registrGnt has been
classified upon the facts shown in
his questionnairc.
1t is further provided that any
registrant, against whose occupation
any information has been made, shall
be notified by the Local Board OF the
registrant to appear and present such
evidence, by affidavit or otherwise,
as he may care to submit upon the
question of the usefulness of his oc-
cupation. He is, therefore, given a
hearing at a fixed date before the
Local Board. 1t is the duty OF the
Local Board to carefully investigate
the record and facts pertaining to his
occupation, and adjudge whether he
shall remain in his deferred class, or
whether he shall be given reason
able opportunity to seek and obtain
employment which is regarded by
the regulations as useful. Every
registrant is given by the regula-
tions a fair opportunity to obtain
useful employment before he is put
in class 1, where he has already been
deferred upon the, grounds of de-
tendency.
After the Local Board has made
it's investigation and decision, 1t is
required to forward all documentary
evidence to the District Board for
final decision. The District Board
has the right to either affirm or re-
verse the Local Board as to whether,
or not, the registrant is usefully en-
ployed, and as to what his classifica-
ton shall be. If one member of the
District Board dissents, an appeal
to the President of the United States
is provided, but only in such case.
We will not attempt in this state
ment to quote, the whole of the regu-
lations defining non-producive occu-
pations or employments, but same
will be found in Section 121K of the
Selective Service regulations.
There is no authority in any Local
or District Board, or any other Gov
ernment agency, to extend the work
or fight rules further than is pro-
vided in Section I21-K, or subse-
quent bulletins issued by the Presi-
dent of the Provost Marshal General
extending the same. Local and Dis
trict Boards are enjoincd with the
duty of considering cases of with
drawal of deferred classification with
sympathy and common sense, in
strict compliance with the rules and
regulations.
1t is expressly provided that no
occupation or employment, not in
cluded in the list or description of
occupations and employments in Sec
tion 121-K, or amendments thereto,
may be held by any Local or District
Board to be non-productive occupa-
tions or employments, except that in
doubtful cases a ruling may be OBJ
tanned from the Provost Marshal
General.
There arc certain Just and legiti-
mate grounds that will be accepted
- reasonable excuse for temporary
idleness, such as sickness. reasonable
vacation, lack of reasonable oppor-
tunity for employment in useful oc-
cupations, as provided in Section
121-K, and especially in cases where
there are domestic circumstances
that would not permit change of en-
ployment by registrant without
disproportionate hardship to his de-
pendents; or where change from
a non-productive to productive en-
pIoyment Or occupation would neces-
state the removal of the registrant
from his place of residence, and such
removal would, in the judgment of
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