How to Proceed if Drafted.
By John Nevins Andrews
Bro. White : I have just returned from attending Sabbath and first-day meetings at Parma and Hamlin, and I find the Review No. 9, containing an account of matters of importance concerning our drafted brethren. Also I am called upon for light. I have just called upon Mr. Hart the marshal of the 28th N. Y. District, and I stated the case to him and inquired for "light." He said that it was the duty of the district marshal in the case of non-combatants "to make an endorsement" of each case to the Provost Marshal General at Washington. And his duty to pass the endorsement to the Adjutant General, and his to the Secretary of War, who is the person to see that the provision of the law is carried out in such cases. I conclude therefore that the district marshals may have neglected to make the proper endorsement. If such be the case it is still their duty of course to act, and they can be looked after to see that they do it. Perhaps a written appeal to the Secretary of War by the Gen. Conf. Committee, in the name of our entire people and accompanied by our draft book, and by the Review containing my Washington matters, and also the last Review might be advisable. Only a few words are needed to present the case. I would willingly write but it seems to me that the Committee would have more weight. When at the office of Provost Marshal Fry, the first thing I was told was that they construed the law to apply to any religious body that fairly came under its provision. Next that they have issued instructions to the district marshals to thus interpret it, in carrying the law into execution. I then asked the nature of the proof that must be furnished the district marshal and was answered as I reported in the Review. Then they said they would copy my papers and place them on file for reference in case any appeal should be made to the war department or any difficulty arise. When copied they returned them to me with a very courteous endorsement. I asked them to give me the instructions issued to the district marshals in the cases of non-combatants, but they said this was secret and could be granted to no one. Had I got this I could have stated the duty of the marshal as Mr. Hart has now stated it to me.