100 years ago in The Saratogian
Friday, June 8, 1917
“Dr. Frederick G. Eaton is the first Saratoga Springs physician to respond to the urgent call by the government for medical men,” The Saratogian reports today.
Eaton, a 1911 Saratoga Springs High School graduate and a 1915 graduate of Albany Medical College, opened a practice in the Spa City just last month. The U.S. declared war on Germany two months ago.
“Dr. Eaton has successfully passed physical examinations for the Medical Officers Reserve, and is now awaiting his commission as first lieutenant,” a reporter writes, “It is probable that before being sent to France he will spend three months at the training camps, this being the plan of the government at present with officers of the Medical Reserve.”
The local paper continues to keep tabs on Saratoga County residents who are joining the military. Company L of the Second New York Infantry regiment is still trying to get up to its full war strength of 150 men. With that in mind, the company recruitment squad pays a visit to Schuylerville today, but not before a Schuylerville man, Thomas H. Brown, shows up in Saratoga Springs to enlist.
Instead of the National Guard, James Joseph Brindle is opting for the U.S. Navy. Brindle, a moulder at Baker Manufacturing, wants to become a machinist. Like Brown, he has to take a physical examination in Schenectady before he’s accepted for service. Loren E. Gailor, who applied to join Company L yesterday, learns today that he flunked his physical.
Those who haven’t volunteered yet but failed to register for the draft on June 5 are taking advantage of a grace period offered by Sheriff Dodge to sign up at the county clerk’s office.
“Those registering are required to subscribe to an oath giving the reason why they did not register on the required day,” The Saratogian explains, “Most of the reasons given so far have been that they did not know that June 5 was registration day.”
Men between the ages of 21 and 30 who fail to register by the end of the grace period face a year in prison.
One of the stragglers is “very frank” when explaining his failure to register. “I was drunk,” he tells the clerk. Told that he’ll have to swear to that in writing, he answers, “I’ll do it, it’s the truth.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Marguerite Clark is the star of “Miss George Washington” at the Broadway Palace, but supporting player Joseph J. Gleason, a former Saratogian, gets a prominent mention in the newspaper ads. Ironically, “Miss George Washington” is “the story of a girl who could not tell the truth.”