Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-20
President Issues Warning Against
TreasoM.
A PROCLAMATION
BY The PRESIDENT Or The UNITED STATES.

~ INOCLfANAl lOIN
BY The PRESIDENT Or The UNITED STATES.
Whereas all persons in the United States,
citizens as well as aliens. should be in
formed of the penalties which they will
incur for any failure to bear true allegi-
ance to the United States;
Now. therefore. l. Woodrow Wilson. Presi-
dent of the United States, hereby issue this
proclamation to call especial attention to
the following provisions of the Constitution
and the laws of the United States:
Section 8 of Article iii of the Constitu-
ton provides. in part: Treason against
the United States shall consist only in
levying war against them, or in adherins
to their enemies, giving them aid and
comfort"
The criminal code of the United States
provides:
Section 1-Whoever. owing allegiance
to the United States. levies war against
them or adheres to their enemies, giving
them aid or comfort within the United
States OR elsewhere. is guilty Of treason.
Section 2-Whoever is convicted of
treason shall suffer death or, at the discre-
ton of the court. shall be imprisoned not
less than five years and fined not less than
ten thousand dollars. to be levied on and
collected out Of any or all Of his property,
real or personal, of which he was the owner
at the time Of committing such treason.
any sale or conveyance to the contrary
notwithstanding and every person so con-
victed Of treason shall, moreover. be in
capable of holding any office under the
United States.
Section 3-Whoever, owing allegiance
to the United States and having knOwl-
against them, conceals and does not. as
soon as may be, disclose and make known
the same to the President or to some judge
of the United States or to the Governor or
to some judge or justice Of particular
State, is guilty of misprision OF treason
and shall be imprisoned not more than
seven years and fined not more than one
thousand dollars.
Section elf two or more persons in
any State or Territory. or In any place
subject to the Jurisdiction of the United
States, conspire to overthrow, put down.
or to destroy by force the Government of
the United States or to levy war against
them. or TO oppose by force the authority
thereof. or by force to prevent. hinder. or
delay the execution of any law of the
United States. or by force to seize, take
or possess any property of the United
States contrary to the authority thereof
they shall each be fined not more than
five thousand dollars. or imprisoned not
more than six years. or both"
The courts Of the United States have
stated the following acts to be reasonable :
The use or attempted use Of any force
or violence against the Government of the
United States or its military or naval
forces;
The acquisition. use or disposal of any
property. with knowledge that it is to be,
or with intent that it shall be, of assist
ance to the enemy in their hostilities
against the United States
The performance of any act or the pub
LEGATION Of statements or information which
will give or supply. in any way. aid and
comfort TO the enemies of the United
States:
The direction. aiding. counselng or coun-
tenancing of any Of the foregoing acts.
Such acts are held to be reasonable,
whether committed within the United
States or elsewhere whether committed
by citizen of the United States OF by an
alien domiciled or residing in the United
States, inasmuch as resident aliens, as well
as citizens. owe allegiance to the United
States and It's laws.
Any such citizen or alien who has knOwl-
edge of the commission of such acts and
cOnceals and does not make known the
facts to the officials named In section Of
the Penal Code is guilty Of misprision OF
treason.
And | hereby proclaim and warn all
citizens Of the United States, and all aliens
owing allegiance TO the Government of the
United States. to abstain from committing
any and all acts which would constitute a
violation Of the laws herein set forth, and
further proclaim and warn all persons
who may commit such acts that they will
be vigorously prosecuted therefor.
In witness whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this
Sixteenth day Of April In the Year Of Our
Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Seventeen, and Of the Independence of the
United States OF America the One Hun
dred and Forty-frst.
WOODROW WILSON.
BY the President,
ROBERT LANSING.