Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-26
PROPOSEDLAW
AIMS TODRAFT
GERMAN ALIENS
Resolutions Adopted BY Senate
Proposes That Enemies Be
Forced to Do Work Other
Than Military


A vague possibility that German
aliens in Hawaii may be drafted b!
the government for non-military pur
poses is looming up on the horizon
Resolutions regarding abe drafting 81
aliens have been adopted by the sen
ate and sent to the house.
Should these resolutions and their
several amendments finally be passed
by congress, alien enemies OF the
United States in Hawaii, as well as on
the mainland, would be drafted for
work other than military undertak'
ings.
Advance notices Of the legislation
reaching Honolulu are taken by L. >.
Attorney s. C. Huber to mean that
enemies would be drafted into the
service of the United States and used
for agricultural work and in other
work where their presence could not
prove a menace. He is not sure. how
ever, whether the draft regulations
cover all enemies or only those be-
tween the ages of q and 81.
Moved by the failure of proposals
TO negotiate with the Allies for the
drafting of their citizens or subjects
in this country, the senate on Septem'
Der II put through a resolution order
ing the drafting Of aliens for the
national army. The resolution was
sent to the house. -:..s-.
The only exceptions allowed by the
resolutions are Germans, subjects OF
countries allied with Germany and
aliens exempted by treaty. Amend.
ments adopted would permit the draft,
ing of German, Austrian, Bulgarian
and Turkish aliens in this country for
non-military purposes. Another pro-
vision would permit subjects OF the
Allies or neutrals claiming exemption
under treaty to leave the country
within ninety days.
More than a million aliens now in
this country are said to be affected
by the resolution. The excessive pro-
norton of aliens in some districts was
declared TO have caused grave in
equalities in the operation of the draft
law. This also is taken up by the
resolution, which provides that in flu
ture drafts credit shall be given for
excessive proportions in the first draft
due to exemption of aliens.
AS passed by the senate the resola-
ton provides:
That all aliens who have lived in
this country year or more and who
have not declared their intention to
become citizens may be drafted.
That subjects or citizens Of coun-
tries having treaties with the United
States protecting them from military
service shall be exempt unless their
governments waive the treaty stipu-
lation. In this case such subjects or
citizens are given ninety days in
which to leave the country.
That alien enemies may be drafted
for non-military purposes during the
present emergency.
That Americans who have enlisted
in armies Of the Allies shall not lose
their citizenship.
That alien enemies who have de-
clared their intention TO become citi-
zens may enlist in the army.
That states shall be given credit in
future drafts for inequalities due to
excessive proportion of alien popula-
ton.
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon,
who introduced the resolution, de-
clared that he was tired of waiting |
for results from Senator McCumber's |
former resolution to give the presi |
dent power to negotiate with the
Allies on this subject. McCumber's |
resolution was blocked some time
ago.