Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-24
No EXEMPTION
FROM REGISTRY
FOR ARMY DRAFT
All Males of II to 80 Must Req
lister on June 8.
NO SECOND DAY TO SIGN UP
Entire Question of Exemption viii Be
Decided Upon Later-Law Pro-
vides Imprisonment for
SIackers

Siackers.
Washington, May 23.-The provost
marshal generals office is flooded with
inquiries from all corners of the cOun-
try regarding exemption from military
service under the Selective draft law.
The answer to all these questions is
that there is no exemption from regis
tratiOn; that each male person be-
tween the ages of twenty-One and
thirty years inclusive must register.
Brig. Gen Enoch Crowder, provost
marshal general, said:
''In regard to the ages it is particu-
larly pointed out that if young mans
tWenty-frst birthday falls on June D
he must register, but on the other hand
if his thirty-first birthday falls on that
date he is exempt
No Second Registration Day.
"SOme ask will there be a second
registration for men who attain their
twenty-frst year between June and
the date of the draft. There will not
be a second registration day for the
first draft of 100000 men. Whether
there will be another registration for
the second half million men has not
been determined. Officials of the war
department believe the one registration
will be all that is necessary to raise
the first two armies of 100000 men
each.
There is also some confusion in
the minds of persons who belong to
some class or sect who are exempt
under the law from military service.
Regardless of what claims to eXemp-
tion are proved later. all such persons
are compelled to register on June 5,
and then at a subsequent time they
will be afforded an opportunity to
press their claims for exemption.
The entire question of exemption
is, under She provisions of the law, put
in the hands of local boards and high
tribunals yet to be designated by the
president. and whose numbers will not
necessarily be from the registration
boards. The law provides the penalty
of Imprisonment with no alternative
of fine for any official or any regis
tered man who shall make false re-
turn or connive at such a practice. The
safeguards against favoritism or eva
sion are ample.
If III or Away From Home.
Chose who through sickness shall
be unable to register should cause a
representative to apply to the county
or city clerk for a copy of the regis
tration card, and such representative
shall see that the card is delivered 10
the registrar of his voting precinct. In
the case of Il person who expects to
be absent from his voting precinct on
registration day. he should apply as
soon as practicable for a registration
card to the county clerk where he
may be stopping, or if he is in Il city
of over 10000 inhabitants, to the city
clerk. The clerk will record the an
SwerS on the card and turn it over to
the absentee. The absentee should mail
this card to the registrar of his home
voting precinct and inclOse With it a
self-addressed envelope to insure TO
him the return of his registration GER
tificate.
Further. it is the duty of every per-
son who has knowledge of any evasion
of registration to- furnish such informa-
tion against the offender to the regis
tration board. l wish to point out to
the people and the authorities that
each community must furnish its quota
of men according to its population,
and that every evasion of registration
increases the chances of those who
have registered being drafted. When
this is fully realized public sentiment
will be so strong against ne Stacker
that his fellow citizens will do their
duty and report him.
''The law provides that any man be-
tween the ages of twenty-one and thirty
years inclusive who fails to register
shall be imprisoned for not to exceed
one year without the alternative of a
fine, and the courts have been instruct
ed by the president to place such cases
at the head of their docket, thereby ex-
pediting the melting out of justice"
No Conscription of Farm Labor.
1t has been definitely decided there
will be no cOnscription of farm labor.
The council of national defense and
the department of agriculture and
labor have thoroughly canvassed the
situation and decided that advocacy
of legislation which would permit con-
scription would seriously interfere with
the operation of the military law.
In consequence any plan that may
be finally decided on by the fed
eral government will call for voluntary
work.