The Washington herald., 1918-07-03
WORK OR FIGHT
LAW HITSONLY
AT DRAFT AGES
Crowder Explains Rule Call
ing Nonfighters Into
Effective Work.

Provost Marshal General Crowder.
in coumen.ins on tie ',Sork or ig IT,
regula .ioa. which tcf.k effect July ),
Yesterday asked The Washington
Herald to call attention TO tie ccca-
sional misconception Of the iesula-
tons scope. ABSORBING to Gen.
Crowder. II appllss only to men who
are between the ages Of q and 30, and
are thus liable to draft for military
service,
THE widespread and instant popu-
lar pprJc7al of this regulation hiss
bein emphatic" said Gen. Crowder.
"But It's scope should not be mis-
understood. as occasionally 1t Is found
to re. Primarily 1. 10 a military
measure. snd was promulgated ui:'tr
tine irl' cave service a.. which places
under liab'nty for immediate military
service all qualified men between the
ages of q and 30. II does not affect
men outside Of these ages and there
fore does not affect industry at Ia'ge.
Set Fighters Free.
1.-THE ar'iv AMI navy are kIls
n en- who are best able physically to
do the fighting. But that is only one
Inrt of tn. n4tioral task imposed by
the war. The other part-the part
that falls on the other man-is to set
free these men who are TO do the
lighting. Every man who helps to set
free a fighting man is helping to fsht
and win the war.
"And II Is every mans duty to give
that share of help. That, duty to
work, and to work effectively. is the
foundation of the new measure. Work
or fight'-there Is no other alternative.
Now. many of the men of draft
age in deferred classes 2, 8 and 4. that
is, deferred on grounds of depend
ency, are not engaged In effective In
dustry. The spectacle is not a salts
flying one Of a contingent Of drafted
men from Class being marched down
the street to camp while other men
Of their own age. watching them from
from the windows, remain behind to
sell cigarettes or dispense soda foun-
tain drinks, solely because they have
received deferment on grounds OF de-
pendency.
Let Their Work BE War Work.
"If these men Of the same age are
to stay behind. let them at least get
into work more effective to help the
war. Their deferment takes them out
OI oCANtSCs caiN ycs 80 '~c .@~
economic war purpose Whatsoever.
They are Of military age, and
therefore have the primary duty to
do war work. II their dependency
gives them deferment from imme-
diate military war work, let them at
least do something economically use
full to maintain the nations welfare
while at war. They should get into
some useful and effective occupations,
or else forfeit their deferment from
military service. The alternative is a
fair one.
This regulation therefore does not
affect any person outside of draft age.
except, indeed, that 1t will offer him
more opportunities Of employment
than before. The places left vacant
by the men within draft age will now
be filled by men Of older or younger
ages, or by women.
These men who are Of military age
will either 20 into military service or
viii go into occupations more neces-
sary for the national welfare where
there Is an untitled demand for addi-
tional man power. They will be re-
placed, to the extent that they need
replacing. by the others not liable to
military service.
This II q natural and logical con-
sequence Of the vast Withdrawals for