The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-03-21
stAte Of Iowa. Adjutant Generate
Office, Dies Moines, lows.
March Is, 1918.
To All District and Local Boards in

/. The Provost Marshal General
forwards to the Governor the follow
ing letter giving important informa-
ton in regard to the next draft,
which is published for the informa-
ton and guidance of all concerned:
There has been a great deal of
speculation in the press concerning
what has been termed 1.-THE date of
the. next draft" Almost every
week, announcements have been
made and these announcements, be-
an unrest and uncertainty that has
As a matter Of fact the state of
preparedness of the army to assim-
ilate varies from day to day and
from week to week and the most
fcrees viii nf pe to OF wSdraW em
from civil life as fast as they can be
assimilated by the army and no fast
er. According to this plan, men
will be indicted into the service in
very small groups apportione,d
as they needed. In order to distri-
butte the burden equally over the
various states, however, it is neces-
sary to make arithmetical computa-
tions of the share of each state and
it is not practicable to make these
computations for such small num-
tiles, therefore. it is necessary. to as,
sumo total of considerable size and
to apportion it among the several
states as their immediate burden.
This total is called a national quota
and the various shares are called
state quotas. The announcement of
the, quota does not mean that any
Such proat numhar Of man will ba
called to military service at once
and, indeed, has no necessary rela-
ton to the date of call for the
reason that a constantly changing
situation causes changing in the
number of men who are to be called
to the colors.
1t is unwise to attempt to make a
forecast of the number of men that
will be called for immediate mill
tary service in advance of the de-
velopment of the whole complex
problem of supply and transporta-
ton It is also uaWise to make make
figures which might. serve the enc
my as a precise basis for determin-
ing the plans for military participa-
tion of the nation in this war. 1t
is necessary, however, to compose
the present unrest and uncertainty
by. some public announcement and
for this reasvI. 49, loilo"lHS is 2u-
thOratively stated.
The next ,n nationaI quota will be
announced ana apportioned among
ing legislation authorizing a change
y, the basis of computation is en-
acted by congress: This legislation
has been passed by the senate and
favorably reported by the House
Military Committee. The number
that will be assumed as a basis, for
computation will be 100000 which
clause of section l of the Selec-
tive Service Act of a second incre-
.ment of 100000 men, increased by
the recruit units authorized by
clause of said section 1, and by
the special and technical troops au-
thorized by section OF said Act:
it cannot now be announced what
colors eac hmonth will be but it
may be stated that no more men
will be called than can be properly
accommodated and properly assim-
Hated.
There are difficulties confronting
the nation in the supply Of labor ap-
purtenant to agriculture. Class !
Withdrawn, will contain many more
men than are at present required for
the army. 1t would be a most rn-
scientific and fatuous step if the
men in Class l were called indis-
criminately without regard to the la
Dor situation in agriculture. There
fore. the local boards will be direct
ed to fill their quotas in the order
of liability of men in Class ! as de-
termined by the national drawing
except that, where it is known that
a registrant is completely and assid,
uously engaged in the planting, cul.
tivation or reaplng OF crop, ms
to the foot of the quota of his board
as long as he continues to be. so en-
whose call to the colors has been
deferred by reason of his engage
ment in agriculture, is shown tC
have been idle on the farm on which
he is engaged or to have trifled with
ed him, the. boards will forthwith
induct him into military service II
his order number has been reached
in the meantime. The effect of this
expedient is to grant furloughs from
service prior to actual call to the
eolors of the men SO greatly needec
in the production of this years
crop.
This is not, however, the only ex
pedient that is to be adopted to con
serve the supply of labor appurte
nant to agriculture and to mobilize
for the agricultural season Of 1918
There is now pending before con
gress a bill authorizing the Secre
tary of the War to grant furloughs
with or without pay, to men in tn
army to enable them to engage II
industrial and agricultural pursuits
The purpose of this bill is to re
lieve serious situations in particular
instances in which men who are tn
main stay of farms have been ! IN =
Quoted into the service eithe
through voluntary enlistment. or Sc
lection and whose services during tn
present emergency in agricultur,'
be granted after consideration Q
the circumstances OF the individ i'd q,
case in which they. arise and wh N.
they can be granted without to-
great disruption and disorganizatio1
Of the army or. of any particular or
rou;1ofion IF the 9rmV