The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-19
The NEXT DRAFT

mere Has DttH great utdl VI
speculation in the press concerning
what has been termed The date OF
the next draft" Almost every week,
announcements have been made and
these announcements, being mere
guesSeS, have resulted in ar unrest
and uncertainty that has been unfor-
tunate.
As matter OF fact, the state of
preparedness OF the Army to dSSimi-
late recruits varies from day TO day,
and from week TO week, AID the
most scientific manner OF recruiting
the forces will be to withdraw them
from civil life as fast as they can be
asSimilated by the Army and no faS-
ter. According to this plan, men
will be inducted into the service in
very small groups apportioned among
the various States from week to
week or from month to month as
they are needed. In order to distri-
butte the burden equally over the va
rious States. however, it is necessary
to make arithmetical computations
of the share of each State and ii is
not practicable to make these COM
putations for such small numbers
For mere bookkeeping facility, there
fore, it is necessary TO assume a 20
tai of considerable size and TO ap-
portion it among the several States
as their immediate burden. This TO-
tai is called national quota and tie
various shares are called State quo
taS. The announcement OF the quo
ta does not mean that any such
great number of men will be called
to military service at once, and, in
deed, has no necessary relation 10
the date of call for the reason that
a constantly changing situation eau
ses changes in the number of lncn
who are to be called to the coiors.
It is unwisc to attempt to make
forecast of the number of men that
will be called for immediate military
service in advance of the develop
ment of the whole complex problem
of supply and transportation. 1t is
also unwiSe to make public annOun-
cenlents of specific figures which
might serve the enemy as a precise
basis for determining the plans for
military participation of the Nation
in this war. 1t is necessary, how
ever, to compose the present unrest
and uncertainty by some public an
following is authoritatively stated.
The next national quota will be
announced and apportiOned among
the several States as soon as pending
legislation authorizing a change in
the basis of computation is enacted
by Congress. This legislation has
been passed by the Senate and fav-
orably reported by the House Mill
tary Committee. The number that
will be assumed as a basis for compu-
tation will be 100000, which is we'll
within the authorization of clause
of section l of the Selective Service
Act of second increment of 500,
600 men, increased by the recruit
training units authorized by clause
5 CT said Section 1, and by the spe-
cial and technical troops authorized
by section of said Act. 1t cannot
noE be announced what the total
~ ber to be called to the eoldIs
mecth will be, but it may De
VI no Z Y B esrif
ed than can be properly aceommo-
dated and promptly assfmilated.
There are difficulties confronting
the Nation in the supply of labor ap-
purtenant to agriculture. Glass |,
from which new levies are to be
| withdrawn, will contain many more
men than are at present required for
! the Army 1t would be a most un-
| scientific and fatuous step ii the men
| in Class | were called indiscriminate-
| ly without regard to the labor situa-
! tion in agriculture. Therefore, the
| Local Boards will be directed to fill
| their quotas in the order of liability
| of men in Glass l as determined by
the national drawing, except that,
| where it is shown that regiStrant is
| completely and aSsiduouSly engaged
| in the planting, cultivation or reap
| ing of crop, his call to the colors
shall be deferred 10 the foot OF the
quota of his board as long as he con-
tinues to be SO engaged. Whenever
any registrant, whose call to the col
ors has been deferred by reason OF
his engagement in agriculture, is
shown to have been idle on the farm
on which he is engaged or to have
trif1ed with the deferment that has
been accorded him, the boards viii
forthwith induct him into military
service if his order number has beer
reached in the meantime. The eff
feet of this eXpedieht is to grant fur
| loughs from service prior to actua
call to the colors to the men so great
ly needed in the production of thi:
years crop. This is not, however
the only expedient that is to be adop
ted to conserve the supply of labor
appurtenant to agriculture and tt
mobilize all means for increasing the
harvest for the agricultural season
of 1918. There is now pending be
fore Congress bill authorizing th'
Secretary of War to grant furloughs
with or without pay, to men in thu
Army to enable them to engage il
industrial and agricultural pursuits
The purpose of this bill is to relieve