The Coolidge examiner., 1940-09-19
MEN BETWEEN AGE q
TO s. DRAFTED

signed the nations first peace
tine military conscription bill
September 10th as the War De
partment rushed preparations to
nut the draft machinery into
operation.
Upon signing the conscription
the President stated as follows:
America has adopted selective
service in time of peace, and. in
doing so. has broadened and en-
riched our basic concept Of citizen
ship. Besides the clear democratic
ideals of equal opportunities, we
nave set forth the underlying
other duties. obligations and re-
sponsibilities of equal service.
In thus providing for national
defense we have not carved al
new and uncharted trail in the
history of our democratic institu-
uons. On the contrary. we have
merely reasserted an old and ac-
cepted principle of democratic gov
cinment. The militia system, the
self-armed citizenry with the obi
cation of military service incumb-
ent upon every free man, has It's
roots in the old common law. III
was brought to this continent by
our forefathers. 1t was an ac-I
Cepted institution in colonial days
At the time of the adoption of the
federal constitution, nine of the -
states explicitly provided for uni
versal service in their basic laws.
I'm those days, little was required
in the way of equipment and tram
ing for the man in arms. The|
average American had his tllnt-
lock and knew how to use II. In
addition. he was healthy, strong
and accustomed to hardship. When
he reported for military duty. he
brought with him his musket and
his powder horn. His daily lie
insured him to the rigors of war
fare.
Technical Weapons Needed
Today. the art of war calls for
wide variety of technical weapons
Modern life does not emphasize
the qualities demanded of soldiers.
Moreover. behind the armed forces
we must have a munitions industry
as a part of an economic system
capable of providing the flghtlng
man with his full requirements of
arms and equipment. Many lndl-
yiduals. therefore, may serve their
country best by holding their posts
on selective service is to provide
men for our army and navy and at
the same time disturb as little as
rossible the normal life Of the
nation.
Draft Provisions In Brief
On October 16, all men q to 80
wears old. inclusive, will register
at registration places to be es-
tablished in each neighborhood.
Local boards-it is intended TO
have 5000 to 6,500-will shuttle
the registration cards and give
each a number
A series of numbers will be
drawn in Washington by lot.
When the first number is drawn,
each man who has the correspond
ing number in a local boards file
will be put down as the first man
Tab'e for service from his local
group.
Ouestionnaires then will be sent
to the men, in the order in which
their numbers were drawn, asking
the number of dependents, physi-
cal disabilities, etc.
On the basis of this information
the men will be classified as fol-
.ows: Glass 1 available for i'm
mediate service), Glass II (service
deferred because engaged in es
sential occupation), Glass III (ser
vice deferred because of depend
cnts), and Glass " (service de
ferred by law-legislators, judges
etc..
Meantime, a Washington board
will determine a quota for eacf
state, based on the population and
number of men from that state al