I remember years ago reading somewhere that Rutherford did something to apease the government to keep himself out of trouble but didn't remember what it was. I've been looking for the info you posted here.
I also remember that back in the Vietnam era male witnesses of draft age were told that they couldn't go in the military or even ask for alternative service yet they didn't offer any draft counciling. BTW not being able to ask for alternative service made no sense to me.
One time during that era I was at the draft board and saw a table set up outside offering draft counciling. I think it was run by the SDS but I don't remember for sure. Anyway there was clean cut young man there who was asking for assistance. If you were clean cut back then you stood out. It turned out that he was a Jehovah's Witness I remember this because I recently began studing with them so I was observing him. I remember wondering why he was asking them for help rather then his church. Now I know why. The Watchtower didn't offer any counciling for something as life changing as refusing military service. They didn't mind throwing young men under the bus as long as it didn't effect them.