February 7th, 1918.

Mr. [blank]
Government Appeal Agent,
[blank] N.C.

My dear Sir:-

You are hereby directed to enter an appeal in behalf of the Government in the following cases:-

1. In every case where a single man is not placed in Class 1.
2. In every case where a married man is placed in Class 1.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter, and let me understand that you propose to carry out strictly these instructions.

In giving the above instructions I do not intend to say that there are no cases in which an unmarried man ought not to be placed in some deferred class, but I do mean to say that it is the settled policy of the Government to get the entire quota in the next call from single men if possible, and if a single man is not put in Class 1 the reasons for failing to place him in this class should be approved both by the local and the district board.

I do not mean to say that there are not some married men who should be placed in Class 1, but it is the policy of the Government not to place married men in Class 1 unless it shall affirmatively appear to the satisfaction of both the Local and District Board that such married man does not support his family. Of course if a married man is not in the habit in good faith of doing honest work, and is not in good faith discharging his marital obligations, then he ought to be placed in the very fore-front of Class 1.

With respect to men who have married since May 18th of last year the Secretary of War has recently ruled that this circumstance requires careful investigation of the marriage, and if it appears that the marriage was entered into on account of the War, then the married man ought to be treated as a single man in the classification; but if it appears that the marriage was contracted in good faith, and was neither contracted nor hastened on account of the war, then such married man should be treated like any other married man. I am trying to secure uniformity in the attitude of the local boards. My opinion is that about 90 per cent of the boards are following strictly the rules above outlined, but about 10 per cent of them do not seem to understand. I think it would be well for you to take this letter and go over it with the Local Board to the end that they may re-classify all cases where the above principles have not been applied.

Very truly yours,

Governor.

B_G

Enclosed in: 1918, Feb. 8. Gov. to all Local Boards.