New Britain herald., 1917-06-22
ARREST SLACkERS
 AFTER WEDNESDAY,
Negigents May Register Until
 That Time, Attorney Says

Up to and through next wednes- day Ill mon between the ages of 21 and a1 years who failed to register for conscription on June will be permitted to register, according to . statement issued last night by United States District Attorney Thomas J. spellacy. Afer next Wednesday 1t will be the duty of local registration boards, with police co-opsration. to seek out and arrest all slackers. Upon receipt of information regard ing each stacker the federal author tiles will issue warrants and prosecu- ton will follow.
 District Attorneys Statement.
 The district attorneys statement regarding the above follows:
 Reports made to me by various clerks of the registration boards throughout the state indicate a mis- comprehension of tho registration law. Its primary object is to require the registration of all male persons bstween the ages of 21 and 31 years. In many instances. the clerks have reported to my office the names of persons who failed to register, with- out furnishing any other informa- ton. It Is the duty of the clerks and of registration boards in all cases to consult their local police of- ficers. and to ask these officers to render such assistance in the execu- ton of the law as may be required.
 On account of this misconception, the time for voluntary registration will be extended until and including Wednesday. June 27. 1917. Clerks or registration boards are conse- quently requested to receive all ap- plications for registration and to reg ister persons who will apply before this date. They should further have their local oncers seek out those persons liable for registration who have not registered and endeavor to get them to register. Tn the event of tho refusal of such persons to register. after being requested, the clerks or registration boards should immediately cause such person to be arrested and report this fact to mo. Upon the. receipt of such a report, . warrant for the arrest of such per- sons will be issued and there will be no leniency shown in cases of this character.
 In other words, 1t Is my desire to extend to all persons who have failed to register an opportunity to register: to. have the local officials call to their attention the requirements of the law. After this opportunity has been extended and refused failure to reg ister becomes wilful and will be wig ilently prosecuted.
 Paragraph 16 of the registration regulations prescribed by the pres ident makes 1t the duty of police of- ficers to see that all male persons between the designated ages have registered. Any police ofacr who refuses to comply with the request of the local registration boards to assist in every way In seeking out those who have not registered. there- by becomes guilty of an infraction of the registration law, and Is him. self liable to arrest and prosecution
 The registrations now received by the various boards will be in accord with paragraph 40 of the registra. ton regulations.
 would like to impress upon the clerks of the various boards the ne- cessity for promptly reporting cases of wilful violations of the registra- tion law. The department of justice has requested that all arrests shall be made by June 30. 1917. Consequent ly, I would request . prompt report from the various clerks throughout the state of persons who have failed to comply with the registration law. This report should contain the name of the person. his address. occupation, and a brief note as to what effort has been made to get him to register, what his claims for non-registration are based upon. and proof or evidence of his age and his reference.
 Governor Issues Statement. The local registration board, in