Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-06-07

MILITARY CENSUS ENROLMENT
FOR WISCONSIN EXCEEDS
ALL ESTIMATES.
NO DISORDER is REPORTED
Loyalty of State - Young Men
Are Anxious to Give Their
Services to Nation.

Madison, Wis, June 6-Wisconsin
unQuestionably proved it's loyalty to
the nation yesterday when approx
mately 100000 men between the ages
Of Il and 81 registered for the select
i've draft. Unofficial reports from
sixty counties complete, and esti-
mates from the remaining counties,
show that the draft registration in
Wisconsin has exceeded the highest
estimates that were forecast.
AS further evidence of the patriot
ism Of the Badger state, Wisconsin
contaminated it's registration with
probably fewer disturbances than any
state in the Union. No trouble of any
consequence had been reported from
any county in the state.
At an early hour this morning the
registration for Milwaukee county,
with five city wards missing, was 49,
868. The forecast had been for ap-
proximately 10000 registrations in
this county.
The registration figures for other
large cities in the state are: La
Crosse, 2,725; Green Bay; 2,281;
Madison, 1898; Racine, 6,381; Osh-
kosh, 2,749.
Enrolment was especially heavy in
the industrial districts, and some of
the farming sections reported larger
totals than anticipated. Some of the
counties which ordinarily are slow in
reporting registration figures were
h.
suits of DUTY day"
Few Exemptions Claimed.
Information reaching here indicates
that less than 10 per cent of the men
who offered their services to Uncle
Sam claimed exemptions, which is
striking evidence of Wisconsin's 10y
atty.
Practically all Of Wisconsin's army
was enrolled at o'clock. Booths in
some of the country precincts closed
earlier, but in La Crosse and other
cities the registration continued after
the closing hour to accommodate the
rush of men who wished to enlist.
There was sharp competition from
points in every section of the state to
get returns in early, and telegraph and
| telephone wires hummed. From the
cities, from the villages and from lit
| tie homes along the countryside came
the same fine stOry-the story Of pa
| triotism and loyalty. Examples Of IN
| americanism and Attempts to cheat
| the draft were few Alien and native
| born, marching as sons of liberty, reg
| istered by the thousands. A compar-
| ativeIy small number of men exercised
the right of exemption on the score of
dependents. Men enrolled for service.
Richland county, with a registration
of 1903, was the first county to make
a complete report. La Crosse county,
| outside of the city Of La Crosse, re-
ported about the same time with
| registration Of 1,240. At the state
| prison at Waupun $50 men enrolled,
| this figure not including the prisoners
| who were away doing road work.
! During the day the prisoners sub
| scribed $500 for Red Cross work, and
! liberty bonds to the amount Of $1,000
| were purchased Ashland county,
with an enrolment Of 2,577, was the
| second county to make a complete re-
| port.
Second Chance to Register.
Plans are being made in the city Of
Milwaukee to give victims of acct
dents or those who were suddenly
taken sick another chance to enroll.
| 1t is probable that a central reglstra-
ton bureau will be established in the
city hall, where any one who was IN
able to register on June 5 Will be
given a chance to add his name to the
roll. It is practically certain, officials
say, that the lists of those who regis
tered will not be posted in the various
neighborhood until after the emer-
gency registration has been com,
pleted. Neither will there be any
prosecutions until this final opportu'
| nifty has been withdrawn.