[or-roots] WWI draftees called up from other than their home

[Robyn Greenlund]

It's possible they were registered when at school, but here's the problems with that.... I checked the historic newspapers and from what I could tell, it appears if you were between 21 and 31 years of age as of June 5, 1917, you were required to register on that date in your place of primary residence (at the same place you voted). If you were sick or absent from your "permanent home" you could either register by mail or by going to the city clerk (cities over 30,000) people or county clerk to register. I don't know how you would know in advance you were going to be sick though (unless it was disease). 

I also found mention of people who were registered in two places, where they were to report to whichever one they received the call from first. So maybe in the initial confusion, they registered at school AND at home, and were picked to muster up from Eugene? I guess if we looked at the actual registration cards for some of these out-of-area people we might be able to tell by the name of the clerk (if present) or by the number on the card. I would think for example that if someone from a smaller town had a number higher than 10% of the population of that place, that they must have registered out of the area.

Wilson
Proclaims War Army Draft Men Between Ages of 21 and 30 Are Ordered to
Register
Oregonian
(Portland, OR), Saturday May 19, 1917, pg. 3

And I do charge those who through
sickness shall be unable to present themselves for registration that
they apply on or before the day of registration to the County Clerk
of the county where they may be for instructions as to how they may
be registered by agent. Those who expect to be absent on the day
maned from the counties in which they have their permanent homes may
register by mail, but their mailed registration cards must reach the
places in which they have their permanent homes by the day named
herein. They should apply as soon as practicable to the County Clerk
of the county wherein they may be for instructions as to how they may
accomplish their registration by mail.

In case such as persons as, through
sickness or absence, may be unable to present themselves personally
for registration shall be sojourning in cities of over 30,000
population, they shall apply to the City Clerk of the city wherein
they may be sojourning rather than to the clerk of the county.

Draft Rules Added Important
Additional Instructions Given Boards. Medical Students Called Members
of Local Exemption  
Oregonian (Portland, OR), Wednesday
August 1, 1917, pg. 11

Persons Registered in Two Jurisdictions
Section 30 prescribes the method by
which a person registered in two jurisdictions may have one
registration canceled, but that section is not to be construed as
authorizing him to choose. There is only one proper registration and
that is the one at his domicile. It is only registrations at other
places that can be canceled under section 30. If no move is made to
cause such cancellation the person must answer to the Board that
first calls him.
Other articles regarding registration:

Census
Marshals To Be Appointed Sheriffs Told to Name One in Each Precinct.
Registration Cards  
Oregonian
(Portland, OR), Saturday May 5, 1917, pg. 10-11

All
Must Register Government Will Decide Later on Draft Exemption. Jail
Penalty Is Provided Information  
Oregonian
(Portland, OR), Wednesday May 16, 1917, pg. 11

Robyn
rgreenlund61 at yahoo.com

Interested in Coos County History? See what's online at
genealogytrails.com, coquillevalley.org, or orgenweb.org 
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