Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-31
REPORT ELIGIBLES ARE
IN FLIGHT TO MEXICO
AND CUBA
OFFICIALS WORRIED
ADMITTED IN WASHINGTON
THAT SOME CITIES WILL HAVE
TO DEAL WITH RlOTERS-PRE-
PARE TO MEET ANY EMERGEN-
CY.

Washington, May 31.--Disorder and
possibly even rioting on June 5--reg-
istartion days feared by federal Of
fcials.
No attempt was made by officials
today to hide their apprehension, as
to how registration day will pass off.
The discovery OF anti-registration
plots and the reports of young Ameri-
cans fleeing to Cuba and Mexico to
escape registrat 'on. have convinced
officials that the day is not likely to
pass quietly.
Full preparations have been made
to meet any emergency and 1t is felt
here that no serious trouble can de-
yelop. Wide powers have been
granted to both state and federal
authorities to meet any situation that
may arise The powers are such
that troops may even be called to en-
force the registration law, il neees-
sary.
Army officers frankly admitted to-
day the revelations OF the department
of justice, showing widespread agita-
ton against draft were a great sur
prise. 1t had been thought that r~~-
istration day would be made q big
holiday and that there w0ulu NC no ~
position of any sort expressed. Only
the most outspoken Of army officers
will discuss the situation. They say
the American people have been called
upon for so few sacrifices that very
real se,fishness hss been permittc
to develop. There has been no We
Of patriotism over the country
culated to sweep away all s''1 Mo'on
lives. For this the govern Phone: OF
at least in part responsi3G7K.
What the army officials,
as "Cowardice.' Is the fear tina
been the outgrowth OF stories pc
ted to sweep back from the b ~
front. The average American, =
say, is convinced that there is little
difference between the signing OF his
enlistment papers and the signing of
his death warrant.
The war department is counting not
so much on the use OF physical force
on registration day to insure its sue
cess as upon the efforts being put
forth by the department of Justice.
The reiteration by Attorney General
Gregory of the penalties for failure
to register is counted upon to influ-
ence even the heartiest opponent of
the draft to file their names with the
registrars. II this calculation does
not go amiss the success of the regis-
tratlon day and in consequence the
draft is assured.
The actual process Of conscripting
men, which will begin in the fall, is
expected to cause little trouble. The
reason is that the eonscripts will be
taken in little groups and not in
great bodies. The danger of organ
lied resistance is therefore greatly
minimiled
Many In Cuba.
Havana, May Submitting their
motive in leaving the United States
was to escape registration under the
selective draft, many Americans have
arrived in Cuba during the past few
days.
Consul General Rodgers has been
watching the situation carefully but
stated today their efforts will be sue
cessful as the war department Of the
United States considers registration
abroad as voluntary.
Check Flight at Elpaso.
El Paso, Tex, May 81. Under or,
ders from Washington more than one
hundred men of CONSUMPTION age who
We're trying to get across the line into
Mexico, have been held up In prac'
tically every instance they were well
supplied with money, but carried little
baggage.
Congress- Reoonyenes.
WASHINGTON. May S1.-Facing many
, weeks OF hard Legislative work TO com
3 plete the administration war pro
/. gram, Congress today resumed IT.
+ sessions after the Memorial Day re
r cess. The Senate again turned a.
tentlon to The food survey bill which
r already has passed the House, sus
! pending, however, long enough TO re
| ceiye Prince tldine and the members
of the Italian commission.
The Prince read to the Senate the
autograph letter from the Italian kint
to the American people, The com
mission viii pay It's respects TO thu
House tomorrow. H
While the Senate was debating TN
food survey bill, the first Of the tEt