The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-16

plete statistics covering the entire Of 1
Grafton of the draft up TO July lo'
1919, show the following results when
are truly remarkable:
Out of n registration OF 23,9OS'o'o
men, there were reported 4S9,OOS cases
of desertion, or total Of 2.O4 per
cent of the total registration. or TINS
number, It appears that 151 ,354 cases
we're accounted for by enlistment 1T
our own armies and those OF our al
lies and erroneous induction of aliens
and other registrants, so that the TO-
tai Of net assertions was reduced 10
337640, or 1.41 per cent OF the tota'
registration. OF this last number 1857
73S men have been apprehended ana
their cases disposed of, leaving an
actual balance of outstanding cases OF
desertion in which the offender mas
neither been accounted for nor pun
ished 1921 or 0.72 Of / per cent OF
the total registration.
It therefore appears that out of a
total registration of more than 23OOO-
600 men but 1.41 per cent wrongfully
sought to escape the military obliga-
ton imposed upon them by the selec-
tive service law. and that at the pres
ent time but 0.72 of per cent of the
entire registration group have failed
to respond to the duty imposed upon
them and have not yet been brought
to justice. 1t also appears that be-
tween September II, 1918. and June
80. 1919 $4,000 deserters have been
apprehended and delivered to the mil
itary authorities for disposition. 1t is
thought that within . next IL months
the total of net ont anding desertlons
will be materially tduced, so that the
final result will show a percentage
very much less than the present low
figures stated above.
Not the least interesting infOrma-
ton that the final compilation of sta
tistics concerning the operation Of the
draft disclOses is it's cost. The total
amount appropriated by congress for
the expenses of the selective service
system was $54.S96,903. OF this
amount, $30,847, 914.24 was expended.
People Are Neglected.
The Virgin islands in the Caribbean
sea, which recently came into posses
sion of the United States through
purchase from Denmark, must be
Americanized. This is the gist Of
the report of the joint congress
sional committee which made
trip to the islands for the purpose of
looking into the allegation that the
| United States is neglecting the well
fare of the islands. This country has
had so many big problems to deal with
since it bought these islands that it
has really paid very little attention to
| them. AS soon as title to the islands
passed from Denmark to the United
! States President Wilson issued an Or
| der which committed the government
of the islands temporarily to the navy
department. That order was issued
about the time the United States was
getting into the war with Germany.
Ever since that order was prOmulgat-
ed Rear Admiral J. w. Oman, U. S.
| n, has served as governor OF the is
| lands. The power conferred on the
admiral was limited and he has, it
seems, not attempted any reforms, be-
cause he felt that he was not author
lied to do so.
| The senators and representatives
who made up the joint committee that
visited the islands was very emphatic
| in the declaration that this country
must either do something for the in
| habitants of the group of islands or
! turn the islands over to some govern
ment that will take an interest in the
people. The outstanding features OF
the report of the joint committee,
which will shortly be submitted TO the
| two houses of congress, are embodied
| in the following recommendations:
(1) American ideals and American
standards as far as possible shall be
made the ideals and standards of these
possessions. (2) An American form OF
civil government should be estab-
IIshed for the group of islands. 90
United States currency should be
adopted in the islands. (4) An educa-
tional system adapted to the needs OF
the inhabitants should be provided and
departments dealing with industrial
affairs, agriculture and sanitation
/ should be established without delay.
The government never has put forth
any clear statement as to why the IS
lands were purchased. 1t was said at
the time of the transfer that they
would be useful to the navy of the
country in case the United States
should ever be attacked by foreign
foe, The truth seems to be that the
islands had become burden to Den
mark. which offered to sell them to the
United States at a knOckdown price
and that this government concluded
that the offer was q bargain and ac-
ceDted it. Whatever the justification
for the purchase of the islands, it now
is incumbent on the United States. ac-
cording to the joint congressional com
mittee. to do something for the inhabi-
tants and do it at once. The commit
tee will report to congress that the
people are not any better off under
American rule than they were under