822 
Correspondence. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm.. 
Nov.,  1918. 
"Dr.  A.  R.  L.  Dohme, 
"  Member  Executive  Committee, 
"  American  Drug  Manufacturers'  Ass'n, 
"  Care  Sharp  &  Dohme,  S.  W.  Cor.  Pratt  &  Howard  Sts., 
"  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
"Dear  Sir:  I  have  read  with  interest  copy  of  your  letter  of  Oc- 
tober 10,  addressed  to  the  Surgeon  General's  Office,  in  which  the 
importance  of  pharmacy  as  a  necessary  industry  is  submitted.  In 
order  to  overcome  the  situation  brought  about  as  a  result  of  drug 
clerks  being  drafted  into  the  Army  and  the  heavy  demands  that  are 
made  upon  pharmacists  at  the  present  time,  it  has  been  suggested 
that  this  office  release  many  of  the  pharmacists  who  have  been  called 
to  the  colors  and  grant  them  a  deferred  classification  so  that  they 
may  resume  their  civilian  employment,  and  assist  in  fighting  the 
epidemic. 
"Upon  induction  of  a  registrant  into  military  service  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Selective  Service  Law  and  of  this  office  terminates, 
and  all  questions  pertaining  to  the  release  of  soldiers  from  the  Army 
are  consequently  for  the  determination  of  the  military  authorities. 
Hence  the  suggestion  advanced  by  the  Health  Commissioner  of  Bal- 
timore could  not  be  put  into  effect  by  this  office. 
"  As  far  as  the  selection  of  men  for  military  service  is  concerned, 
the  matter  lies  entirely  in  the  hands  of  district  boards  which  are 
authorized,  by  the  Selective  Service  Law,  to  consider  claims  for 
deferred  classification  based  upon  engagement  in  industries,  occupa- 
tions, or  employments.  The  recognition  of  a  particular  trade  or 
business  as  an  '  essential '  industry,  occupation,  or  employment  is 
not  binding  upon  district  boards  which,  in  considering  claims  for 
deferment  based  on  industrial  or  occupational  grounds,  must  find, 
first:  whether  the  industry,  occupation  or  employment  is  'neces- 
sary '  to  the  maintenance  of  the  military  establishment,  the  effective 
operation  of  the  military  forces,  or  the  maintenance  of  national  in- 
terest during  the  emergency,  and  second,  whether  the  individual 
himself  is,  within  the  meaning  of  the  law,  'necessary'  to  the  enter- 
prise in  which  he  is  engaged. 
"  E.  H.  Crowder, 
Provost  Marshal  General. 
(Signed)    "By  Roscoe  S.  Conklin, 
Lieut.  Colonel,  J. A., 
Chief,  Classification  Division. 
