Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-30

Washington, May c3.-Every man Of
draft age must work or fight after July 1,
under a drastic amendment to the selec-
tive service regulations, announced to-
day by Provost Marshal General Crow
der.
Not only idlers. but all draft registrars
engaged in what are held to be non-useful
occupations are to be hailed before local
boards and given the choice OF a new Job
or the army.
Gamblers. racetrack and bucketshop at
PENDANTS and fortune tellers head the list,
but those who will be reached by the new
regulation also include walters and bar
tenders. theatre ushers and attendants.
passenger elevator operators and other
attendants Of clubs. hotels, stores, etc.
domestics and clerks In stores.
Deferred classification granted on ac-
count of dependents, will he disregarded
entirely in applying the rule. man may
be at the bottom Of class one. or even In
class four, but II he falls within the regu-
lation and refuses to take useful employ
ment, he will be given a new number In
| class one that will send him into the mill
tary service forthwith. Local boards are
authorized to use discretion only where
they find that enforced change of employ
ment would result in disproportionate
| hardships upon his dependents.
| 1t had been known for some time that
some form Of work or fight plan had
been submitted to President Wilson. but
| there had been no intimation that 1t
was so far-reaching in scope. Both the
military officers and department of
labor officials believe it will 60 a long
ways to solving the labor problem for
| farmers shipbuilders and munition maxi
ers. and will end for the present at
least talk of consumption Of labor. The
announcement to-day gives a notice sig
nifying that the list Of non useful occu-
pations will be extended from time to
! time, as necessity requires.
CRowDER's STATEMENT.
The statement of the provost mar
shall general follows :
Provost Marshal General Crowder to-
day announces an amendment to the
selective service regulations which deals
with the great question Of requiring men
not engaged in a useful occupation, to
Immediately apply themselves to some
form Of labor, contributing to the general
good. The idler too. will hnd himself
confronted with the alternative Of And
ing suitable employment or entering the
army.
This regulation provides that after
July 1 any registrant who Is found by
local board to be a habitual idler. or
not engaged in some useful occupation,
shall be summoned before the board, given
chance to explain and, in the absence
of satisfactory explanation, to be in.
Quoted into the military service of the
! United States.
ANY local board will be authorized to
take action whether II has original juris-
diction Of the registrant or not: in 0ther
words. any man loahng around a pool
room in Chicago, may be held to answer
to a Chicago board even though he may
have registered in New York and lived
there most of his life.
THE regulations which apply to idle
registrants will be deemed to apply also
to gamblers of all descriptions and en-
| ployes and attendants Of bucket shops
and racetracks. fortune tellers. clair
the purpose of he regulations, shall
be considered as idlers.
THE CLASSES AFFECTED.
1.-THE new regulation will also affect
the following classes:
"A)-Persons engaged In the serving
of food and drink. or either. in public
places. including hotels and hotel clubs
"tB)-Passenger elevator operators and
: o''chuo"s'' "''ihicI' iootHHcH otHcI
attendants of clubs. hotels, stores. apart
ment houses. Office buildings and bath
houses.
| "(C)-Persons including ushers and Other
attendants engaged and occupied in con.
nection with games. sports and amuse
ments, except actual performers IL
legitimate concerts, operas or theatrca
performances.
"D)-Persons employed in domestic
service.
"(E)-Sales clerks and other clerks en-
ployed in stores and other mercantile
establishments.
Men who are engaged as above, OIL
who are iders, will not be permitted &c
seek relief because Of the fact that the,
have drawn a late order number, or be