The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-08-16
WHOLE DRAFT LAW
MAY Be REVISED
SECRETARY BAKER URGES IMME.
date ENACTMENT OF BILL
INCREASING AGES
10 TO IS YEARS NEW LIMITS
War Secretary Believes Marriage ReIa.
ton Will in Itself Constitute De-
ferred Iassification.-Men
Below Fl to Come First

Washington, Aug. 10.-New draft
regulations under which the govern
ment would do the selecting rather
than the registrant are under consid
! GRAFTON by the war department This
was disclosed by Secretary Baker
1 after he had appeared before the SEN
ate military committee to urge the
| prompt enactment of the new selective
service act extending the age limits to
| include all men between the ages of
| IS and 40.
The war secretary made it plain
| that he is not satisfied with the pres
ent system under which the registrant
wishing deferred classification must
claim it, as many men with Deepen
dents hesitate for patriotic reasons
TO make such claim. Mr. Baker said
he was inclined to the opinion that the
marriage relation will in itself con-
stitute deferred classification.
Mr.. Baker has in mind TO lay down
set of questions which the regis
trant would answer and then have
rules which would take care of the
classification.
The discussion on the draft ages
before the senate committee, Mr.
Baker said, followed much the lines
taken by General March, chief of staff.
and Provost Marshal General Crowder.
The committe, he added, did not in
dictate any disposition to question the
necessity for the change. which is
urged so the war department can
quickly secure the men necessary to
win the war.
There was some discussion" Mr..
Baker said, "as to whether it was the
intention of the department to extend
the work or fight order TO include
classes of persons in various profess
sional occupations. | told them there
was no present change of the work or
Fight order in contemplation. / said
that when l decided the baseball case
| thought perhaps other forms of
and entertainment might
require an extension of the order to be
on parity with the baseball situation.
but that was not in their mind.
''They had heard from outside |
sources that the department was con-
bring professional classes.
like lawyers, newspaper men and per- |
sons who were not actually engaged |
in producing war supplies under the |
order"
The committee, Mr.. Baker contin-
ned, was especially interested in the
effect in the extension of the draft |
On colleges and also in the question
as to whether young rmen from Is up
would be drawn later, giving them
some added months TO come to ma
.urity.
II told the committee" said the war
secretary. that no fixed policy had
,een determined upon by the depart b
nent, but that the purpose was to
allow the president to defer in Glass 1
he call of the youngest men. I have
llways considered, as you perhaps re-
member, that 10 was the. probable min
mum, and have come to the IS min
mum only because it seems necessary
o get the men.
Not that | think men of Is are nee
,ssarily too young, because I do not
hink that. I think history shows that
'oys from Is to 10 are immensely as
perhaps as from 10 to 20. |
'ut think there is a sentiment in
he country which will look with very
much more anxious regard on the BOYS
rom IL to 10 than boys from 10 to 20.
eighteen years seems to many people /.
more tender age than 10, and if is
or that reason that we are thinking
f making this preferential deferment
# men from 10 to 49,"
Senators said that in urging speedy
nactment of the new man power leg
Station, Mr.. Baker had left to the
Judgment of congressional leaders the
uestion of recalling the senate in
ession before the expiration of the
ecess program August &c, because the
saders are more familiar with the
legislative program than is the sec.
etary.
Mr. Baker told the committee, sen.
tors said, that the department wanted :
, carry out the plan of registering :
ne men September 5 so Glass !
ould be resupplied The present res. ,
rvoir soon Will be exhausted and II r
'as said that either the size OF the
,onthly calls must be reduced or men
aken from the deferred classes.
Secretary Baker was the last OF I
rmy and navy officials to be called \
efore the committee begins consid. I
ration Of the new bill. Because OF f
re committees visit to the war coun.
i, Chairman Chamberlain announced
nat no meeting would be held today !,
ut that the committee would assem-. 7
lie Monday, when an effort will be :,
ade to reach favorable report 90 "
lie measure.