Evening journal., 1918-09-09
CROWDER DEFINES
ESSENTIAL JOBS
Rules to be Put in Prac-
tice by the Draft
Registers
FACTS ABOUT
ALL EXEMPTIONS

Provost Marshal General Crowder has
issued preliminary instructions con-
cernlng occnpational exemptions. They
refer particularly 10 all prospective
registrants between the ages or 1s ana
a., inclusive, who are identified with
industries, occupations or employ
ments, including agriculture. found TO
be necessary to the maintenance Of the
military establishment or the effective
operation OF the military forces or the
maintenance OF .the national interest
during the emergency"
A supplementary fly leaf TO the
questionable which registrants Will
have TO iii out soon after pext Thurs
day will be sent out by the Provost
Marshal Generals direction and will be
found in the new questionnaires. This
will cover in detail information con-
cernlng occupational exemptions and
will refer to newspapers and other in
dustrles necessary 10 'the maintenance
OF the national interest"
The point emphasized by the Provost
Marshal General concerns the moves to
be made by men who are Identified
with these necessary industries.
The statement authorized by Provost
Marshal General CrOwder is as follows:
persons, such, for example, as bank
ers, men in commercial enterprises,
newspaper men. etc. who may con-
template making claim for deferred
classification on the ground that they
are persons engaged In industries, Oc-
cupatlons or employments, including
agriculture, found 10 be necessary TO
the maintenance Of the military estab-
lishment or the effective operation OF
the military forces or the maintenance
OF the national interest during the
emergency, should bear this in mind:
That any such person must be pre-
pared 10 convince his district board (D
that the particular enterprise in which
he Is working Is necessary to the main
tenance Of the military establishment or
the effective operation Of the militory
forces or the maintenance Of national
interest during the emergency, and l2l
that he himself Is necessary TO the
operation Of that enterprise.
In making such claims such per-
sons may make use Of those parts or
the QUESTIONABLE relating TO claims for
deferred classification on the ground OF
being engaged In industries
There need be no doubt in the mind
OF the reglstrant as to which enter
prises arc regarded as necessary either
10 the military establishment or the
national interest, because this phase ot
the matter will be clearly defined by
the government Industries classified
by the government as necessary Will
guide the registrant and he is not eX-
pected 20 decide for himself without re-
gard TO the governments classiilca-
tion.
Thus a man engaged in the manu-
facture Of billiard tables or decora-
tive iewelry or brlc-a-brac or high
grade table linen must not imagine that
he can make "a plea for deferred classi-
ncation on the ground that he is neces-
sary 10 his business.
The government, from the viewpoint
OF national welfare, does not care
whether this business keeps flourish
ing during the national emergency or
not. In fact, Il might benefit the COM
mon welfare II certain OF these bust
nesses suspended operations and turn
ed over the materials, and particularly
the labor, 20 something more impor-
tant. The registrant may be very ne
nes is not necessary to the general well
fare the plea for deferred classification
will not hold.
on the other hand a man may be
Identified with an industry regarded as
necessary 20 the national welfare, but
he may not be necessary 10 that INDUS
try. Thus. for example, firm misht
be engaged on rush contract for war
material upon which to a certain eX-
tent the efficiency Of the overseas forces
depended.
IL is essential, Of course, that this
business 60 on. But the particular in-
dlvidual may be employed as an ordi-
nary clerk in a munitions plant which
requires no special knowledge or spe-
cial training. He may be doing work
which any man over i6 or any average
woman could perform quite as well
as he. He is therefore not an essential
part Of an essential industry and con-
sequently has no valid claim Tor de-
ferred classification.
The man employed In the necessary
Industry must be sure that he is neces-
sary 10 the operation Of the industry
before making his claim for deferred
classification. In the great majority
Of cases his employer will be the judge.
A reasonable Interpretation OF the law
will he allowed.
Key men I'm industries are expected
10 have deferred classification claimed
Tor them by their employers. a type
setter on a newspaper Is a key man
II he is skilled at his work, even
though It might be possible to obtain
a man in his place. Employers are
not expected 20 be deprived OF men ne
ressary TO the operation Of an indus
try II that industry is regarded as ne
ressary 60 the maintenance Of the
national Interest during the emer-
Tency."