The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-30
MOST VIGOROUS
STEP TAKEN To
PREVENT ACTS
Of DISLOYA[TY
DEPT. OF JUSTICE
SENDS INSTRUCTIONS
To Federal Officials to Be
on the Lookout for
Obstruction.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. May %.
Attorney General Gregory to-
day instructed United States attor-
neys and marshais throughout
the country to use their utmost
efforts to arrest and prosecute all
persons responsible for the aeita-
ton which has manifested itself
in localities from New England to
Texas against the registration on
June 5 of men subject to the Sc
ective daft.
This agitation has made itself
felt somewhat in many sections,
but thus far there apparently is
little connection between the out
breaks Officials have undertaken
an exhaustive investigation to de-
ternine if the whole anti-dratt
sentiment is not rooted in exten-
.sive Vaccinations of German prop
adandists in this country, having
a central headquarters.
Color to this theory is lent. IN
some degree, by the marked SINH
,arity in the methods Of proce-
dure in widely separated comnnu-
mites. Some officials believe that
the entire agitation is manutac-
tured by German agents, who, bat
fled in their original program call
ino for an armed uprising Of Ger
man reservists in this country
UPON Americas entry nto the
war, have turned their energies to
this method Of hinderina the mill
Nf
IF such is the case. the conspIr-
acy will come to nothing. oH'c,a's
believe. The Department OF JUS
tice. it was authoritatlveIy an
ncunced tonight. expects virtual ~
100 per cent. Of eIigibles to regis
ter. and prompt prosecution under
the criminal provisions Of the la"
will be instituted in the few cases
where the law. is not observed.
To BRING out the full reeIstra-
ton. Attorney General Gregory to-
day invited the entire nation TO
constitute itself a committee OF
the whole. and every man Of mill
,ary ace a committee OF one. to re-
nort sIackers. The instructions
sent to all United States attorneys
and marshals read as follows:
"Run1ors with respect to pos
sihle resistance to the regIstra-
zion on June $. under the selectlVe
service act having reached the
Oeoarsment of Justice. it is deem
ed expedient TO issue the follow
ina instructions to you:
..Attenticn is called to the duty
enioined upon you Of protecting to
ths fullest extent the registrars
and others carrying the law into
effect. and TO the corresponding
duty to arrest and prosecute all
persons evading. or encouraging
evasion Of. the law. or seeking to
hinder. prevent or delay those who
are we'll disposed and would otheT
wise be inclined to be obedient.
"Furthermore. the utmost ef-
forts of your respective Offices
should be directed to ascertainng
the name and finding the locations
of men. subject to registration who
fail or refuse to register. In order
that criminal prosecutions may
be instituted. as directed by the
act.
"ln addition to the penal pro-
visions contained in the said Sc
lective service act. approved May
18. 1917. other Federal statutes
which are eerrane and my be ef-
fective according to the circum-
stances Of particular offenses. are
these. namely:
"sections s. 81. 332 Of the Fed
eral criminal code"
Men who wish exemption from
draft may claim it before local
exemption boards, regardless Of
whether they answer "Yes" or
mo" to the question "Oo you
claim exemption from draft?" be-
fore registration officials next
Tuesday.
The answer of Yes of this
question does. not exempt one
from draft" said Provost Mar
shal General Crowder tonight,
land the answer No is no bar to
making a claim for exemption
later"