Practically the entire male citizenship of the United States within the age limits fixed by law, twenty-one to thirty years inclusive, presented itself at the 4,000 enrollment booths with a registered result of nearly 10,000,000 names.
The project had been so systematized that within 48 hours almost complete registration returns had been assembled by telegraph in Washington.
The order in which the ten-million registrants were to be called was accomplished on July 20 by a great central lottery in Washington.
The boards proceeded promptly to call, to examine physically and to consider claims for exemption of over one and one half million men, a sufficient number to fill the first national quota of 687,000.

Thus in less than three and one-half months the nation had accepted and vigorously executed a compulsory service law.
On June 5, 1918, 753,834 men were added to the rolls.

On August 24, 1918, that number was increased by 159,161; finally on September 12, 1918, under the provision of the act of August 31, 1918, 13,228,762 were added to the lists of those available for military service, which, including interim and other accessions, amounted to a grand total of 24,234,021 enrolled and subject to the terms of the Selective Service law.

This tremendous exhibition of man power struck terror to the heart of the Hun and hastened him to, if possible, deliver a telling blow against the Allies before the wonderful strength and resources of the American nation could be brought to bear against him.
Commenting on the facility with which the selective draft was put into effect, the report of the Provost Marshall General stated in part: "The expedition and smoothness with which the law was executed emphasized the remarkable flexibility, adaptability and efficiency of our system of government and the devotion of our people.

Here was a gigantic project in which success was staked not on reliance in the efficiency of a man, or an hierarchy of men, or, primarily, on a system.