Middletown transcript., 1917-04-21
IRON HAND
FOR PL0TTERS
A Proclamation

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 prosecuted
by the government.
Tho Proclamation.
The Presidents proclamation fol.
lows:
Whereas, all persons in the United
States, citizens as well as aliens,
should be informed Of the penalties
which they will incur for any failure to
bear true allegiance to the United
States:
"Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States, hereby
issue this proclamation to call especial
attention to the following provisions
of the constitution and the laws of the
United States:
Section of Article III. of the Con-
stitution provides, in part: Treason
against the United States shall consist
only in levying war against them, or IN
adhering to their enemies, giving them
aid and comfort
.sThe criminal code Of the United
States provides:
"'Section Whoever, owing allegt-
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.
Death Penalty.
"'Section 2-Whoever is convicted
Of treason shall suffer death; or, at the
discretion of the court, shall be inn
prisoned not less than five years and
fined not less than ten thousand dol
lars, to be levied on and collected out
Of any or all of his property, real and
personal, of which he was the owner
at the time of committing such trea-
son, any sale or conveyance to the
contrary Notwithstanding and every
person SO convicted of treason shall.
moreover, be incapable of holding any
Office under the United States.
"'Section 3-Whoever, owing allegi-
ance to the United States 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 Of the
United States or to the Governor or
to some judge or justice of a particu-
lar state, is guilty of misprision OF
treason and shall be imprisoned not
more than seven years, and fined not
more than one thousand dollars.
"'Section eff two or more per-
sons in any state or territory, or in
any place subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, conspire to over
throw, put down, or to destroy by
force the government of the United
States or to levy war against them, or
to oppose by force the authority there
Of, or by force to prevent, hinder, or
delay the execution Of any law of the
United States, or by force to seize,
take or possess any property of the
United States contrary to the author
Lty thereof, they shall each be fined
not more than $4,000 or imprisoned
not more than six years, or both
Reasonable Acts Defined.
1.-THE courts of the United States
have stated the following acts to be
"The use or attempted use of any
'orce or violence against the govern
ment of the United States or it's mill
tary or naval forces:
1.-THE acquisition, use, or disposal OF
any property with knowledge that it
IS to be, or with intent that it shall
be, Of assistance to the enemy in their
aostilities against the United States.
"The performance of any act or the
publication of statements or infOrma-
ion which will give or supply, in any
way, aid and comfort to the enemies
If the United States.
"The direction, aiding, counseling
)r countenancing of any of the fore
going acts.
"Such acts are held to be treason
able, whether committed within the
United States or elsewhere; whether
committed by citizen of the United
States or by an alien domiciled or
'esiding in the United States, in as
much as resident aliens, as well as
citizens, owe allegiance to the United
States and it's laws.
Vigorous Prosecution.
"Any such citizen or alien who has
knowledge of the commission Of such
lcts and conceals and does not make
Znown the facts to the officials named
n Section of the Penal Code, Is
,uilty of misprision Of treason.
"And 1 hereby proclaim and warn
Ill citizens of the United States and
Ill aliens owing allegiance to the gov
of the United States to
lbstain from committing any and all
lcts which would constitute VIOLA
ion of the laws herein set forth, and
further proclaim and warn all per-
ons who may commit such acts that
hey will be vigorously prosecuted
herefor.
"In witness whereof l have here
into set my hand and caused the seal
# the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington
his sixteenth day of April, in the year
# our Lord, one thousand nine hun
red and seventeen, and of the Inde-
'endence of the United States Of
america, the one hundred and forty
lrst.
WOODROW WILSON.