The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-08-23
MANFRED MEN IN MEFEKRED
CLASS
Radical Change IN Draft Rules
Would Eliminate Claiming Of Ex-
emptfOn.

washington. Marriage is to be au-
tOmatically cause for deferred
classification I'm the draft This was
indicated by Secretary Baker, who
said he had the matter under con-
sideratiOn and that it would be e.
cided when the new regulations are
given 0Ut-
New regulations are in course of
preparation, Mr- Baker said, tO
govern classifying the millions who
will register when the sO called man
power bill extending the age limits to
eighteen and forty inclusive, be
comes law. Important changes af-
fecting the majority of families in
the country will be made in the regu-
lations as they now exist.
Two probable changes will affect
the relationship which marriage
automatically bears to deferred
classification and also the present
requirement which calls On the in
dividual to state whether or not IT,
claims deferred classification. There
has been a general opinion that both
these phases 0f thH present draft
laW should be reconHiderea by the
WAR department, ana the reason fOr
change is all the more apparent when
III comes to extending the are limit
up to- fOrty-hve, Inclusive
Under present regulations mar
riage does not necessarily constitute
cause for deferred classification.
The question on which 1t Is decided
lis dependency. VIII or will not the
families of the registrants suffer, not
IN a sentimental but in a practical,
financial way, if the men are among
the first to be called to the colors?
This, III II explained, has been the
question to decide, and the boards
have had the authority tO decide Att.
In the great majority Of cases the
boards ruling A. probably fair, but
the regiStrant never knows until he
haS been up before thu board whether
Oh not he II going I'D d. placed in "A
deferred class or i'm "a r.
With the age limits I'll to 81 this
question of dependency concerning
married men was easily decided in
the majority of cases, because it is
rare that a young man has sufficient
financial means to insure his family
against want regardless of his future
labor. But in extending the age
limit up to 45 a different condition is
found to exist. There are many men
between 40 and 40 who by their
diligent saving and their life or hard
work have llaid aside enough To
guarantee support for their families
regardless of what happens tO them
selves. Secretary Baker realizes
that thousands Of heads of families
49, in this position.
The question at once arises as To
what they are to do when called on
to answer the question OF whether
they claim deferred classification on
the ground Of dependency. These
heads of families throughout the
land cannot claim that their families
are really dependent upon their la
Dor for support. Under the present
regulations each and every one of
these men might be put in the All
class by the board and sent into the
service under precisely TIN same con-
ditiOns that would apply It'd men with
nO dependents and with nO RESPONSE
bilitieS.
As Secretary Baker indicated, le.
does mot propose It'd have a wholesale
breaking up of family life If 1T can
b. avoided He il Of the opinion that
enough man power can be marshaled
without going to this extreme
Likewise Mr. Baker does not APP
pear to favor the idea of these heads
of families being called on to say
whether or not they claim exemption
or deferred classification on the
ground Of dependency