The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05
new DRAFT RULE.
Names of Men With Physical
Defects To Be Withheld.
Orders Received by Boards
From General Crowder.
SAVE THEM EMBARRASSMENT
Many Do Not Like To Have De-
fectS Published.
Local Board No. 2 Has Exam.
ined More Than $50 Men.

According 10 orders recently re-
cetved in the offices of the local draft
boards which were issued from Cen
eral Crowder's office in Washington,
local boards are no longer to be per-
mitted to give out the names of men
rejected in the selective service proc
ess on account of physical disa biIities
arising upon examination.
Heretofore, in each list of men ex-
amined there has always been a pro-
portion which did not pass the physi-
cal examination on account of one or
more of the physical defects which are
sufficient to make them unacceptable
for use in general military service
Some of theeS men were not entirely
10 inca pacitated by their disability and
were designated for what is termed
limited service. The names of the men
rejected and those classified for lin
tied service have always been pub
1tshed in the lists of men classified in
class 1 any of the deferred CLASH
fioations. This will no longer be true
under the new orders which permit
only the publica ton of the names of
men accepted. either class L men or
deferred classifications
Unfair to the Men.
1t is the opinion of members of the
local boards that this order was placed
IN effect on account OF the fact that
many boards have exceeded their au
thOrity and not only published the
fact that the man was rejected but
also the physical disability on which
his rejection was based. In many
cases this has caused much mental
distress to the rejected man and is not
at all a fair proposition for many of
them do not care to have the cause
for their rejection advertised. On the
other hand, almost every man who has
been rejected, naturally is very desir-
Ttr,N 1t f.-S
know him are given the opportunity
to know that he has been rejected. In
this time when almost every one is
connected with the service in some
way a man who looks as if he were
all right and within the age limits
feels that people wonder why he is
not in the service. They do.
Many Unpleasant Questions.
The man has to answer many un-
pleasant questions and meet the eyes
so full of question every day in his
business activities. 1t is decidedly an
unfair proposition that these men who
look all right are to be subjected to
the added injury of not having the
fact that they are ineligible for service
published along with the names of the
men who are.
Local board No has completed
the physical examinations on more
than $50 men. However, under the
new regulations referring to the putt
location of the results of physical ex-
aminations the results of these ex-
aminations cannot be published. The
boardlsent out cards to 1854 men. The
per cent of men who will be placed In
class 1 cannot be estimated. The ages
of the 1884 men range from IL to Sc
and a large number of these will I'M
doubtedly be given class 1 for the rep
resentatives of the local board say
that very few men are claiming ex-
emption.
The railroads. however. are claiming
p exemption for many of these men who
are valuable specialists in their line of
work and whose loss would work
hardship in the efficient operation of
the roads. OF these men, it is probable
that many will be given deferred
classification, altho the per cent claim
ing exemption on these or on any
other grounds is very small. Eleven
men were given class l this morning.