Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-29
REGISTRATION AND THE LIBERTYLOAN

There il nothing optional about the act of resister.
ing on June s. 1t 10 like paying taxes. 1t must be done.
The individual has nothing to say about 1t. If he neglects
to pay his taxes his property will be seized. If, being of
proper sge. he neslects to register, his person will be
standpoint Of the nation registration is voluntary.
Through its chosen representatives the nation has vol
unteered the services Of its entire young manhood. to be
drawn upon as may be necessary, for the promotion Of
the cause in which the nation itself 10 enlisted. 1t 10 not
q matter Of sending somebody else" These young men,
through the act Of the government which is their govern
ment, constitute a vast body Of volunteers. Their par
ents, their brothers and sisters. who themselves may be
disqualified for military service. have volunteered the
services Of those nearest and dearest to them. That act
has been completed. and it is Anal. Registration is but
one Of the steps to give effect to the decision which has
already been made. The nation of which We are all part
having made this decision, 1t is compulsory for every in
dividual to govern himself accordingly, and for failure
to do 30, appropriate penalties have been provided.
The Liberty Loan stands on q different footing. The
element of individual choice remains in that. No law
has been enacted requiring any individual to subscribe to
this bond issue. The nation hes decided that a. one Of
the ways Of raising. funds which are Immediately neces-
sary. these bonds shall be issued, and that an. opportunity
shall be given to each citizen to gauge the strength Of his
own patriotism and to make an effort proportionate
Herewith.
Tho immediate need Of the government 10 money, a
vast amount Of it. In order to obtain that money. and to
obtain it from the sources from which. for the sake Of the
strength Of the government it should come. the great
common people, the terms have been made such 90 to in
nict no hardship whatever. and a. little inconvenience as
possible. on any individual. Interest has been hxed at
= 81 per cent, with n OptOn OF exchanging Tor any
bonds which may later be issued at a higher rate. This
of itself Is not a high rate, but when we remember that
W face q period Of very high taxation. and that these
bonds are exempt from taxation of every kind except
Inheritance taxes, the rate compares favorably with the
rate to be obtained on lone-term private investments Of
unquestioned soundness. -
Comparing the two things. repatriation and the Lib
erty Loan. we ind that registration IL merely a formal act
required of all men Of proper age as a means of making
effective = great patriotic movement which has found ex-
preston in = federal Law. and that subscription to the
loan IN a n11h1}N dJtv fhA rfN n n 2 which q r.
optional with the individual. There are many million
persons in the United States who are not Of proper age
for military service and who. therefore. cannot register.
But among all the millions of grown people in the coun-,
try, those who do register and those who cannot, there
are very few who cannot be Of service to the country IN
subscribing something to the Liberty Loan.