Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-26
ON
MOBILIZATION Of
SELECTMEN ISSUED
War Department Issues In
StructiOnS to Delay Call of
Men Actually Engaged lin
Making Crops

Notifying all local boards of the COM
pletion of transportation arrangements
for the mobilization of the men in the
special emergency call recently issued,
Major Joel B. Mallett officer in charge
Of the selective service for Georgia, on
SATURDAY sent out detailed instructions
covering the entrainment Of both white
and colored selectmen between March
20 and April !.
The detailed schedules compiled by
the association of railroad traffic man
ayers, Will be in the hands OF the local
boards by Monday, thus affording am
pie time in which to complete final ar
rangementS for the entertainment OF Sc
lectmen from each community.
Specific instructions are given the
local boards to send the full quota Of
men allotted by the selectiye service
authorities, regardless OF whether this
number exceeds the previously an.
nounced quota, since any excess VIII De
credited on successive quotas.
The white selectmen are to be sent
TO Camp Gordon, while the negroes go
to Fort Riley, Kan.
OF special importance is the series
of instructions regarding the calling OF
men actually engaged in the production
of agricultural crops. Under orders
from Washington, Major Mallett in
structel the various local boards to de-
fer the calling of such men until the
end of the new quota. Considerable ap-
prehension had been caused throughout
the state over the somewhat indefinite
information regarding the order in
which men actively engaged in crop
production should be Jailed. To clear
up the situation, Major Mallett wired
the local boards, as follows:
"The situation arising from the scar
CITY of farm labor demands that the
call to the colors of men actively com
pletelv and assiduously engaged In
planting or cultivation of a crop, but
who are in class one and within the
new quota, should\ be deferred until
the end Of the new Quota"
Not an Exemption
Major Mallett explains that the fore
going order from the war department.
IS not an exemption, but that it de-
fers those men to the end of the list
and they would not, therefore, be in
Quoted into service until the other
available men had been exhausted
which will not come, under the opinion
of Washington, at any time within the
crop year, or likely after it.
In the matter of making application
for furloughs. as ii becomes necessary
to carry on the farming enterprise Oh
the state. under the Dent bill, the state
agricultural department Saturday re-
ceiyed a letter from Senator Hoke
Smith, on the subject, in reply to
telegram, in which he says
II have taken the subject up per-
sonallv with General Mccain. the adju-
tant general. He advises me as tol-
lows: The secretary of war has not
vet issued any instructions of direc-
tions in pursuance of the recent act OF
congress as to no wenlisted men shall
proceed to obtain fuFloughs to engage
in civil occupations and pursuits. In
the meantime, they may apply for fur
loughs in the usual way, viz: through
regular military channels at the camp.
beginning with the captain of the COM
pany, to to the division commander.
who has full authority to dispose of
the case finally. The application should
be supported by affidavits showing the
necessity of the enlisted mans services
on the farm"
Purpose of Dent Bill
There has been some discussion in
this state about the purpose of the Dent
bill and it's provisions in respect TO
the pay of furloughed men while en-
gagged N farm work. That point was
covered in the letter by Secretary Of
War Newton Baker to Congressman
Dent. transmitting the bill which had
been approved by Mr.. Baker, in which,
besides setting out that the bill would
leave the matter of pay discretionary
with the secretary of war, said:
The main purpose for which 1t -
intended to use this authority is to fur
Tough soldiers in the national army dur
ing harvest and planting time to en-
able them to assist in the agricultural
production of the country"
Mr. Baker further said in his letter:
Under the law as IL now stands, men
would be entitled to pay and allow
ances during the period of their alb
sence. 1t is necessary, therefore, to
have authority to grant such furloughs
without raising a claim against the gov
eminent for pay" which was provided
in the bill.
In respect to the matter of men to be
called into the extraordinary allotment
for movement beginning the goth, the
fact is cited that men engaged in agri-
cultural work should file their affidavits
I'd Of