Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-05-21
MACHINERY IN MOTION
Governor Sends Telegrams to State
Officials Concerning Registration
of Eligibles for Draft.

washington, May Z1.-E IePai a
tions to register 100000 young
men for military service on June {
are proceeding swiftly throughout
the country. Advices reaching the
War Department show that forty
two States have their machinery al
ready organized, ready to proceed
with the work
Central boards have been estab-
lished in county and city for each
80, 1000 population; blanks and forms
have been distributed, and nation
wide machinery stands ready to take
the military census in the shortest
time ever allowed for such huge
undertaking-on fourteen-hour day.
All doubts as to the wisdom of
turning this task over to the States
was dispelled by the nature of the
Governors messages. A fine spirit
of cooperation and desire to join in
the national teamwork for which
the President has asked in his proc
lamation has been displayed.
Richmond, Va. May p.
Governor Henry c. Stuart has set
= in motion the machinery for the reg
istration in Virginia on June 5 of
every male person who has reached
the age of twenty-one years and who
has not yet attained his thirty-first
birthday, s,hen kilograms went forth
from the Executive Mansion shortly
before midnight to the Mayors Of all
cities, the sheriffs of all counties,
physicians of the county board Of
health and to clerks of the county
courts notifying them of their ap-
pointment as members of the board
Of registration and instructing them
as to their duties.
This action by the Governor fol-
lowed the Presidents proclamation
on Friday night designating the day
for the registration of every person
in the United States within the
ages prescribed by the army bill,
and after instructions had been re-
ceived yesterday afternoon from the
War Department. Under previous
instructions. those officials of the
State notified last night had been
advised that the polls would be
opened at o'clock in the morning of
June 5, and would remain open until
9 o'clock that night.
Under the provisions of the army
bill just enacted, every person of
military age must register, and to
fail to do so is at his own risk. Vio-
lations Of this character are subject
to jail sentences, at the end of which
the offender: will be automatically
drafted into the services of the
United States.
ALI machinery for setting up the
War Departments selective draft
system in Virginia will today be put
under the direction. of Adjutant-
General William Wilson Sale, ac-
cording to announcement made last
night by Governor Stuart. He will
be in charge of all plans for Regis
tration Day, June 5, and will be, re-
sponsible for all details in the huge
undertaking until the actual draft
of men for the new army of the
United States has been completed.
All expense incurred will be de-
frayed by the Federal government.
In connection with the above,
Mayor Fisher, of this city, has re-
ceived the following:
Richmond, Va, May 90, 1917-The
Mayor. Alexandria, Va.
The President has issued his proc
lamation making June fifth, nineteen
seventeen. registration day. I am
requested by the war department to
notify you to proceed at once to
appoint local boards of registration
in accordance with instructions sent
you by the provost marshall general
Supplies of blank forms and infor-
nation have been sent you by the
War Department. Last installment
will reach you or or before May
twenty-fourth. Advise me by wire
on May twenty-ffth that you have
appointed the local boards and that all
registrars have been appointed and
notified, at the same time advising
me of sufficiency of blank. forms
and other necessary equipment you
be sure that registration in quarters
and booths are supplied and in readi-
ness.
uENPy q STJJAR'T ro,or,or