The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-11

claim deferred classification for neces-
sary men In necessary industries,
whether the mon themselves claim de-
ferred classification or not. This they
are to do by hlling out the proper form
OF their employees Questionnaires. The
men themselves are urged to make
claims " they feel entitled to deferred
classification.
False Chivalry Deprecated.
As emphasized already in THE SUN
REFUSAL to make such claims IL described
as mistaken chivairy." In the Provost
Marshal Generals statement to-day. This
does not mean that men who feel they
could render better service by Joining
the colors should hesitate in their choice.
but 1t does mean that the prejudice
which thousands have against claiming
deferred classification in the common
interest should be done, away with II
the circumstances warrant.
The fact that the first call Is for men
between the ages Of 80 ana SO and ~
and 20 Inclusive does not mean that
there will be great delay before the next
call for the older and younger men Is
issued. The essence Of the whole draft
programmes speed, and the army to
De recruited to its needed 100000
strength will have to include all Class
men OF IS to IS.
Gen. Crowder said yesterday that
young men In the 10 to 20 classes would
be accepted for Induction into the stu
dents army training corps. but the total
authorized strength Of this corps is $780,
600 and the total of registrants below
20 Is more than 100000.
Gen. Crowder's Statement.
In his statement to employers and
other representatives of industry Gen.
Crowder said:
dress 10 you some recommendations as
to your share OF responsibility in the
classification OF the new registrants un-
der the se!ective service act. I have
noticed in the general expressions of the
public attitude which reach this office
two frequent features, which lead me TO
the present comments. One OF these
features is the belief that the process OF
awarding deferred classification to a
registrant requires merely the filing out
of the QUESTIONABLE and that the selec-
tive service boards will perceive the pro-
priety OF making the deferment without
the assistance furnished by the regis
trant's formal claim indicating the de-
ferment desired.
The other feature Is the employer
failure to realize his responsibility TO
intervene in aiding the boards deter
mination and therefore to inform HIM
self fully on all the considerations which
should affect the decision as to defer
ment Both Of these features are due
to a single larger fact. viz. failure on
the part OF many to reflect on the In
dustriAl considerations governing de-
ferred classincattons.
Il. As to the first mentioned belief
Il must be pointed out that IL it were
universally acted upon the process Of
classification would be seriously ham,
pered and, delayed. Some one must in
dictate that the individual case Is one
which should arrest the special atten-
ton of the boards In respect to the
registrant's ocupatlonal status. The
boards do not possess a superhuman
omniscience. Nor are they permitted by
circumstances to devote unlimited time
to the search OF missionaries for pos
sible grounds of claim.
I'm 1917, out of more than 5000. 900
registrants called only 10000 filed
occupational claims, or ~ per cent. I;
thus % per cent of all resistrants
raised no question OF such deferment.
Under the questionable system the
exact scrutiny o. every page OF this
eo per cent. OF missionaries presenting
no occupational claims would have been
an intolerable expenditure Of time, In
volving a delay fatal to the speed and
decisive action necessary for filling the
army.
Men Affected Must Give Aid.
THE boards will do all that they pos
sibly can on their own initiative to reach
a just decision by a complete examina-
ton OF the questionable. even where
TO claim Is expressly made. following in
this respect the spirit OF the Secretary
OF Wars statement made before the
House Military Committee on August IS
last.
1T IL not easily possibIe-it is, per-
haps. not possible at ALTO do that
without some aid from the men affected ::
but az far as II Is possible we ought to
have the facts d veloped by the answers
to the questions which the man makes
and call on him for as little aid as we
can In determining whether or not ne
Is to be exempted A registrant Is there
fore at liberty, II he sees fit, to trust to
the scrutiny OF the boards to discover
the necessity for his deferment.
Nevertheless, the boards will welcome
and will need all the aid that can De
furnished by the indication of a claim
made for deferment. With this aid the
process will become simple and speedy
one. Time and labor will not be wasted
on needless search, and ample time will
be gained for thorough attention to those
cases explicitly raising a question OF
occupatIonal deferment.
But who is TO make the claim? Or
dinarily. the registrant himself will In
= H. Id. LII. -.
But II through mistaken chivalry he
should fail to do SO. another may make
It for him. In industry. agriculture or
other occupations. this other person
will naturally be his employer. or som.
other representative OF his associated
group. And this brings me to the sec.
ond feature above mentioned.
Need OF Third Persons Help.
80. Why should the employer. or othe,
third person. in such cases make the
claim? Because the employed In this
situation represents the nation--becauss
Tin the statutory phrase) the mainte.
nance OF the military establishment OF
Of national interest during the emer.
gency' requires that some we'll advised
third person should look after that ma.
tional interest, which the reglstrant him.
self may not have sufficiently considered
How many employers having chargs
of some industrial or other occupationa
group have hitherto taken pains to IN.
form themselves systematically which OF
their employees are regietrants and
which are not?' How many have studied
carefully the required conditions for oc.
cupational deferment. as laid down In
the Presidents regulations pursuant to
the statute? How many have made II
a point to survey their entire plant SO as
to single out the really indispensable In