The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-08-15
MARRIED MEN IN
DEFERRED CLASS
Radical Change in Draft Rules
Would Eliminate Claiming
Of Exemption.
SPECIAL CLASS FOR BOYS 10.
All Married Men 10 Co In Deferred
Class - Question OF Dependency
Arising From the War, Would
Be Eliminated.

Washington - Marriage II 10 he hu-
tomatically cause for deferred class
ification IN the draft This was indi'
Gated by Secretary Baker, who said
he had the matter under consideration
and that II would be decided when the
new regulations are given out.
New regulations are in course OF
preparation. Mr. Baker said, 10 govern
classifying the millions who VIII regis
ter when the so called man power Dill
extending the age limits TO eighteen
and forty-five. inclusive, becomes law
Important changes affecting the ma
Iority Of families In the country VIII
be made In the regulations as they
now exist
Two probable changes will affect the
relationship which marriage Hutomat-
ically bears 10 deferred classification
and also the present requirement.
which calls on the individual TO state
whether or not he claims deferred
classification. There has been a gen
eral opinion that both these phases OF
the present draft law should be recon
sidered by the war department, ana
the reason for change is all the more
apparent when II comes to eXtenGihe
the age limit up TO forty-hye, nclu-
sive.
Under present regulations marriage
does not necessarily constitute cause
for deferred classification. The ques-
ton on which ii is decided is depen-
dency. VIII or will not the families OF
the registrants suffer, not IN senti-
mental but In practical, hnanclai
way, If the men are among the hrst
TO be called to the colorsi This, 1t Is
explained, has been the question TO
decide, and the boards have had the
authority TO decide II.
In the great majority OF cases the
boards ruling is probably fair, but the
registrant never knows until he has
been up before the board whether or
not hs Is going to be placed IN s a de-
ferred class or In A l. -as
With the age limits q to 81 this
question of dependency concerning
married men was easily decided In the
aiority Of cases, because II Is rare
that young man has sufficient fnan
clal means to insure his family against
want regardless of his future labor
But in extending the age limit up t(
IS different condition is found to eX
list. There are many men between Al
and 45 who by their dilige savlna
and their life of hard work have lait
aside enough to guarantee support fol
their families regardless of what hap
pens TO themselves. Secretary Bake
realizes that thousands Of heads Of
families are in this position.
The question at once arises as t.
what they are 10 do when called on Il
answer the question Of whether they
claim deferred classification on tn,
ground Of dependency. These heads
of families throughout the land can
not claim that their families are real
4 Is dependent upon their labor for sup
/ port. Under the present regulations
each and every one of these men nigh
be put In the Al class by the boart
and sent into the service under pre-
cisely the same conditions that woult
apply to men with no dependents anC
/ with no responsibilities.
As Secretary Baker indicated, b.
7 does not propose to have wholesale
/ breaking up of family life If It can b
avoided He Is Of the opinion tina
enough man power can be marshalet
I without going TO this extreme.
Likewise Mr.. Baker does not appea
to favor the idea of these heads o
families being called on TO say wheth
er or not they claim exemption or de
ferred classification on the ground o
dependency.