100 years ago in The Saratogian
Wednesday, July 25, 1917
For the purposes of last Friday’s military draft, Saratoga County was divided into two districts. The districts were not equal in population, but now are expected to provide an equal number of men to the U.S. Army.
“As soon as the announcement was posted on The Saratogian bulletin board today that each district of the county will be required to furnish 153 men for the draft army, considerable comment arose over the fact that the allotment in each district has been made equal,” this evening’s paper reports.
Saratoga Springs is part of the smaller district, which has a total of 2,034 draftage men. Milton, Malta, Stillwater and the town of Saratoga are also part of the first district. The second district, which covers the rest of Saratoga County, has a total of 2,973 draft-age men.
“On the face of the figures the first district is compelled to furnish fifteen per cent of its enrollment for the first examination, while the second district supplies only ten per cent of its enrollment,” a reporter calculates. The percentages are based on the fact that twice as many men as will be needed for the army will be called in for physical examinations.
The draft exemption board of the first district meets tonight, having been “aroused at the inequality and injustice of the quota distribution in this county.” Chairman Thomas Finley of Ballston drafts a letter of protest to Governor Charles S. Whitman.
Complaining that the quota for his district is “manifestly unfair,” Finley requests “the number of men the county is to have credit for, i.e. those who have enlisted. We would like also to know the number each district is to have credit for.”
As The Saratogian notes today, voluntary enlistments since the U.S. declaration of war against Germany last April should have been factored into the quota for each county and district.
Saratoga County isn’t the only locality angered by today’s draft quota announcements. A Schenectady correspondent reports that the Electric City is filing a protest with the state adjutant general’s office, claiming that “it has been unjustly dealt with.” Some disgruntled Saratogians are calling on Mayor Walter P. Butler to do the same for the Spa City.
However angry Saratogians are today, they insist that they’re not trying to shirk their patriotic duty.
“The sentiment involved was not to get as few Saratoga boys drafted into the national service as possible. The city, they stated, and the rest of district one as well, is perfectly willing to do its share. It was the manifest inequality of the apportionment that they resent.”