Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-19
The mothers and fathers Of the ma

ton, who have been wondering wheth
er they better make a lawyer or a
civil engineer of their son, have well
coined the questionable" sent by the
war department to all men of draft
age. At first glance it is fearsome
document, especially if one still has
vivid remembrance of examination
papers, but its friendly purpose soon
becomes apparent. One might search
for a lifetime and never find a better
exposition of the difference between
the American way of doing things and
the Prussian system. Germany says,
Co" Come" do this or Est Yer
boten." The United States asks,
What have you done?' What can
you do?" What would you like to
do?"
Would you be willing to take free
evening school instruction, fitting you
for service in the army before you
are called to camp" is an invitation
which many lad whose schooling
was nipped in the grammar school
| bud will accept with alacrity.
/ The dominating idea back of this
wonderful record, the most compre-
hensive attempted since Doomsday
Book, is the classification of the young
manhood Of the nation in order that
it may be turned to the best account,
and it brings with it opportunities
that might otherwise never have
come TO these millions of young men.
All the young fellows who have been
drudging along with little prospect OF
advance or improvement in the fu-
ture, perhaps disconnected with their
lot and resentful because they feel
that they have never had a chance
may know now that Opportunity is
knocking at the door.
When Uncle Sam asks, What can
you do well?" he relies upon his sons
| to answer honestly, and in this long
| list nearly every calling under the
| sun has been set down, but there is
| another query at the bottom Of the
page, that nothing may be overlooked
J IF you are an expert in any occu'
patton not mentioned in these col
:. umns, write it here"
/ BY the time a man has answered
e all these questions he will have made
t a fairly complete inventory of his &C
e complishments and supplied a simpl;
}, history that may be far more elo
quent than he imagines. When mai
e gives his calling as that OF bricklayel
or plumber or lawyer and then oppo
S site the words Band instrument
0 writes "BugIe' or Drum" the exper
e examiner will know that this is some
t thing that this man does because HI
S likes it. When man gives his occu
q patton as that of a detective, but alst
S qualities as a craftsman, there is :
suggestion that this may mean some
v thing more than dotted line show
e ing the course Of the footprints ii
d the alley leading to the place wher'
e the body was found.
Wide Scope for Talents.
= This war is like no other, and neve
was there such scope for talents o
the widest variety. Imagine artist
painting a road on canvas. shown!
a barren and deserted highway, an
stretching it like an awning for mile
over the real road beneath it wher
tens of thousands of men are march
ing unseen by the aviators Of the en-
emy. Yet this is one of the simples
. of many such undertakings. When
soldier sees what appears to be dea
horse in No-Man s-Land which send
off no offending odor to heaven h
suspects that it may conceal a TO
and fires first and investigates after
ward The artist in "camoufiage
who can make it appear that vas
bodies of troops are being assemble
and guns mounted in the opposite d
rection from the place where the res
offensive is being planned, may b
sure of instant fame.
Many of the questions can be dis
posed of by a simple yes or NO
II the man doesn't belong to nor
resistance church he doesn't have
tell when it decided against militanc!
nor when he joined. II he isn't
farmer he doesn't haye to explain tn
difference between desert claim an
stock ranch.
II he is q farmer it will not TAX
long to demonstrate Just how nece!
,sarv he is to the program OF increase
production demanded from the ayr
cultural population. The skilled 1arl
laborer is far down In the column
There are eight classes of men VII
will he called to the colnrs befoi
him.
Page one of the QUESTIONABLE
the most important as an exponent
exactly what is meant by the teri
y "seiective draft about which thei
. has been some MISUNDERSTANDING
q Under Class l are listed the followir
- persous.