Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-06-05
America Starts In With the
Enthusiasm Of Youth
Ready for Battle
IN new YORK POLICE PUT
GRIM TOUCH TO SCENE
National Guard Under Arms
Ready to QueIl Disturb
ances in Cities

Washington, June 5.-Young America
was at the polls today casting its vote
for world democracy registering for
service.
Reports to the United Press early to-
day showed registration day fair
throughout practically all the nation.
The youth of the country was pledging
itself bright and early, heavy listing
heing reported everywhere in the first
few hours after opening of the regis
tration stations. No city reported any
disturbances in the early hours and the
impromptu election machinery, called
into service in the. hour when America
is selecting her men to fight Germany,
was running smoothly and easily,
By night the provost marshal general
expects that 10,264 ,s69 Americans be-
tween 20 ande31 will have listed them
selves in the potential army of the
draft.
Some time betwefn now and early
fall, $4,000 Of this 10,264, ,S69 will be
chosen by lot, called formally to the
colors and started in the government
soldier producing factory. Half mil
lion of the Americans who registered to-
day will constitute the first American
draft army The remaining 125,000 will
form the reserve from which vacancies
in this first half million will be filled.
First Real Draft.
Today was Americas first experience
with compulsory draft from which
there could be no evasion by purchase
of substitute. 1t was the nation IS
first compulsory demand on her youth
since the days of '6l. Many states
made holiday Of the event. Hundreds
of cities held formal celebrations. There
were parades, patriotic mass meetings,
speeches, banners bands and pageants.
For the most part America went Gin -
with the joyous enthusiasm OF youth
of youth unafraid, ready for fight.
A more sober undertone was the grim
presence in modified ranks of heavy
police and militia guards at all registra-
tion places.
New York, melting pot Of the nation
where hundred nationalities congre-
gated, was under heavy guard. Every
ono of Police Commissioner Wood s
bluecoats was at his post. So also was
every one of the auxiliary home defense
league substitutes. Armored police au-
tomobiIes carrying machine guns and
heavily armed men were held in readi-
nsse for instant despatch. Every man in
New York National Guard was under
arms and held for instantaneous action.
Federal and state legal agencies were
primed and ready to begin the arrest of
slackers one minute after 8 p. m. when
the polls for registration should close.
Little Trouble Occurred.
L, 60, Il,
sllscities in the nation took New York s
precautions. 1t was not expected that
fhe day would pass without a few Incl
dents where troublemakers, agitators,
cranks or even German spies, might
seek to interfere with the machinery
of the draft But every state and ev-
cry city was prepared to deal vigorously
with such malcontents and no serious
trouble was anticipated.
The only cities which reported rain
early today were Denver and Lincoln,
Neb. II was cloudy and threatening
in several western and middle western
sections.
Particularly heavy registration was
reported from Detroit, New York, Rich
mond, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland and
most of the other large eastern cities.
The weather at all of these points was
clear and summery.
Provost Marshal General Crowder ex-
pected by noon to have preliminary
report from the governor of every state
estimating the percentage of men regis
tered to the states total population and
giving details as to any local troubles
which might have developed.
In the first few hours of registra-
ton only one organized move on the
part of big business to secure its en-
ployes from the draft had been made
apparent. This was in the form of tele-
graphic protests from New York, Chi
cago and other large cities that GER
tain great public utility interests -
telephone, gas, electric Light and trae-
tion companies-were instrueting their
employees to claim exemption because
they were employed in "public utilities
,,1o'o.sor.. 80 fha maintenance of the