The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-05-17
ONLY ONE DAY FOR
REGISTRATION
WAR DEPARTMENT THIS IMPRESS
i.oa SEQ UPON THE PEOPLE.
DAY is FIXED BY PRESIDENT
No Male Resident of the United
States of Military Age is Excused
From Registration Unless Al
ready in Regular Service.

Washington. May 15.-The war de
partment to-day made the following
announcements regarding the registra
ton of citizens liable to draft:
The war department wishes to i'm
press upon the people that there is
only one day for registration. All
males between the designated ages
must register on the day set.
THE fact that five days were allow
ed for the placing of the necessary
blank forms in the hands Of regist-
rars appears to have misled some
headline writer's. One day only-the
day fixed in the Presidents proclama-
tion--will be devoted to registration.
"One father in offering to serve as
registrar writes:
81 have two sons in the guard and
one in the regular army but ] want
to do my own little bit This is
typical of hundreds of SUCH letters.
All such offeres properly should be
made to the governors who are the
heads of the registration machinery
in their respective states.
IL SIlOulu Ue Cltully tiLfiI
no male resident of the United States
between the designated ages is ex-
cused from registration unless he is
already in the military or naval SER
vice of the United States; that is a
member of the regular army or navy,
the marine corps, coast guard service,
or that part of the national guard now
actually IN the federal service.
Registration is distinct from select
i've service. Registration Is neces-
sary preliminary to the later process
of selection.
1T is useless to ask registrars to
excuse anyone from registration. The
registrar has no such powers. No
one can suspend the law requiring all
to register.
1T is important that all shall under
stand the signifance of registration
and it is hoped that the day will be
approached in the spirit with which
the government has appointed it. Dem
ocracy is its essence. No one can alb
sent himself nor can the weil-to-do
man hire another to represent him on
the occasion. The country's manhood
will present itself on this day and by
so doing will say in effect: Here am
], take me-"
Not only Las the individual citizen
of the country made a remarkable re-
Spouse to the registration call but
the states through their official heads
have indicated such zeal that there is
great rivalry among some of the COM
monwealths for the honor of making
the first complete registration returns.
Many questions are asked daily at
the war department concerning the
registration OF travelling men and 9TH
err absentees. On the sixth day after
the date of the presidents proclama,
ton anyone subject to registration
who expects to be absent from his
home on registration day should go
to the clerk of the county where he
may be staying. If he is in city OF
over 10000 population the city clerk
is the official to whom to apply. The
absentee will be told how to register
and a registration card will be filled
ont. This card must be mailed by
the absentee so as to reach the regis
trar of his home precinct by registra-
ton day The clerk to whom the abb
sentee applies is not empowered to
issue the absentee a registration GER
tificate This is issued by the regist-
rar in his home precinct.
persons too sick TO present them
selves for registration must send a
competent person to the county or
city clerk on the sixth day after the
date of the presidents proclamation.
The clerk will give instructions
for registration.