New Britain herald., 1921-03-19
DRAFT E.N.ADElsS.

Men who think that possibly they max be unJustly charged with evad- Ing the draft and their names pub lished as draft evaders should com municate at once with the AdJuts nt a Generals office at Washington. If they do rot do so. their names may bo included among those who did evado the draft. \ final chance to rectify mistakes is being given. hut action must be taken at once.
 By tho end Of this month the War AsScpartmcnt plans to make public the iiIt ts Of draft cvaders. They will be givNeu to the newspapers. to city. state andt federal police. detective agencies. the Nrnerican Legion and other pa- triotie s,cletie:.
 Once 70 taan's name appears on this list he Ntl1 never be able to escape the humIiation. no matter whether q mistaJsc<has been made or not. The goycrnmont has taken and is taking aI the precautions possible that there shall he no mistakes, and it will probably try to correct any errors that have bccn made after the lists have been published. But even though such correction should be made, after publication of the first lists. many will not see them and thero will remain q stain on tho reputation of any man whose name appears on those first lists. no matter how little he may de- servo thu reproach and no matter how honestly the government may try to correct the wrong impression given.
 The thing to do. therefore. is for those men who have reason to be- lieva their case was or iI misunder- stood. to got into communication with tho Adjutani General at once.
 The original list of draft evadors numbered nearly half million names. This list was carefully check cd over and many evaders of tho draft were caught, thus reducing tho number to about l5O.O0Q names More investigation to avoid mistakes Is now going on. the lists being checked by local boards. the Adjutnnt General and officials of the Navy and Marine Corpa. From their reports the final lists will be made up and given out for publication.
 It may be seen how serious the government considers the strain on a mans namo would he. by the thor. oughness with which the lists have been checked and by the issuance of this final warming by the Adjutant General Harris.
 No man should put off for single day communicating with tho Atju- iieves there is the slightest possibility that his name might be included among tho draft evaders.
 Men should know that out of the half million names first reported as I draft evadcrs it was found that about 15o. .0oO had served honorably either in our army or in the army Of one of our allies. Of course their names were cut out and no stain will attach to them. But 1t may be seen how possible 1t is for mistakes to occur, and emphasis Is made here on the wisdom of action by any men in doubt as to the correctness of their records with tho war department.
 tAs to those who are in the lists and deserve to be there if will be an aw- full day for them when the lists are given out. They will be as outcasts. and, properly so. They. will ba stamped with tho mark burned deep upon the row.of other r'Bergdolls. and they will deserve. its pain except in the few isolated cases which we. as mon are incapabies of being thu judges Possibly there .are such cases. If, so none but Hisher Power will have the great 'compassion needed to l. pity. no: despisa them.