Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-04-20
PRESIDENTS NOTE
Defines TREASON.
CITIZENS AND ALIENS WARNED
IN PROCLAMATION AGAINST
OVERT ACTS.
MAXIMUM PENALTY is DEATH
Courts Have Authority To Give Llsht-
or sentence-vigorous Prosecu-
tIon of All vioiators-AiI Owe
Allegiance To- Uncle Sam.

Washington.--All persons :. in the
United States, citizens and aliens. are
warned in a proclamation issued by
President Wilson that reasonable acts
or attempts to shield those committing
such acts Will be vigorously prosecutr
ed by the government.
Far-reaching importance attaches
to the direction of the warning to
aliens and the declaration that "resi-
dent aliens as well as citizens owe al
legiance to the United States" and
therefore are equally subject. to the
laws against treason and like crimes.
At war, the United States is in a,
very different position from the neu-
tral. Bomb plotters now. may be- grip
ped with an iron hand. Not only are
conspirators themselves subject to
heavy penalties, but any one, even
German resfdenr who has knowledge
of reasonable acts and tails to make
known the facts to the authorities,
may be sent to prison for seven years
and fined $1,000 for misprision of
treason.
The presidents proclamation fol
lows:
Whereas. all persons in the United
states, citizens as we'll as aliens, should
sc informed of the penalties which they
legiance to the United States;
Nov, therefore. !, Woodrow Wilson.
president Of the United States, hereby Is
nic H. -
tention 10 the following provisions OF tha
constitution and the laws Of the United
STATE;
Section to article III Of the consti-
tuition provides, in part: Treason against
the United States shall consist only in
st,sying wnG-lS r ira,t ties ~ or In adher.aS
u their. enemies. giving them aid and
Death Penalty Provided.
The criminal code of the United States
" Section 1.-whoever, owing allegi-
ance to the United States, levies war
against them or adheres to their enemies,
giving. them aid and comfort within the
United States or elsewhere. Is guilty OF
treason
Sec. 2.-whoever is convicted of
treason shall suffer death; or, at the dis,
erection of the court, shall be imprisoned
not less than five years and fined not
less than $40, 900, to be levied on and col
lected out of any OF. all Of his property.
owner at the time Of committing such
treason, any sale or conveyance to the
contrary notwithstanding; and every per-
son so convicted o. treason shall. more
over be incapablS of holding any office
under the Jnitee States. y,
Sec. s.-Whf jver, owing allegiance. to
the United sta IS and having knowledge
of the commission of any treason against
them, conceals and does not, as soon as
may be, disclose and make known, the
same to the president or to some judge
or justice Of particular state. is guilty
of msprison of treason and shall be i'm
prisoned not more than seven years and
lined not more than $1,000,
Sec. 6-If two or more persons in
any state or territory. or in any place
subject to the jurisdiction of the United
or TO destroy by force the goveyAment OF
the United States, or to levy war against
them. or to oppose by force the authority
@ seay r py 20 Of aw o t
United States, or by force to seize. take
or possess any property OF the United
states contrary 70 tae d auIn0rity inc rnefSo1, REQ
$4,000, or imprisoned not more than six
years. op both. - 49,
Courts Define Treason.
s.The courts of the United States have
stated the following acts to be treason
'"iThs,dse or attempted use of any force
or violence against the government OF the
aThe acquisition. use or disposal OF any
property with knowledge that it Is to be,
or with intent that 1t shall be Of assist
ance to the enemy in their hostilities
against the United States;
"The performance of any act or the
publication of statements or information
which will give or supply in any way.
aid and comfort to the enemies OF the
'sThe direction, aiding. counselling or
urfnR of of the FOREGOING
..Such acts are held to be reasonable
whether committed within the United
States or elsewhere whether committed
by citizen OF the United States or by
an alien d0micileu or residing In the
United States, inasmuch as resident
e. ths United g. States 81 asni and its T laws
ANY such citizen or alien who has
knowledge of the commission OF such
asts and an and dces not make n ,e
sectiog Of the penal code il guilty OF
VIII Pfoseouts Vigorously. :.
"And hereby proclaim and warn all
citizens Of the United States and all
ment 'of the United States to abstain
would constitutes violation Of any OF
the laws herein set forth. and 1 fuyther
proclaim and warn all persons who may
commit such acts that they will bs vigor-
"In witness whereof | have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United State. to M be affixed; ff 3D. ,,u.,s,, .,,,.
18th day of April in the year Of bur Lord
1917, and OF the Independence Of thu
United States of America the one nun
0fe0 aha 10f's" WOODROW WILSON.
"By the President.
ROBERT LANSING,