Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-01
WORKING TO PUT
END TO AGITAT|ON
AGAINST DRAFT
Federal Agents Everywhere
Directed to Take Prompt
Legal Steps.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS
Baker Does Not Believe Any
Great Number Will Quit Coun-
try to Avoid Service.
STATUS or MEN Now ABROAD
Answers Not Required to Questions
Whether Individual Claims
Exemption.
STATUS or MEN Now ABROAD
Answers Not Required to Questions
Whether Individual Claims
Exemption.
TBy Associated Press.1

WASHINGTON. May 3l.-while the
legal machinery of the government was
operating to-day to stamp out agita-
tion against the army draft the War
Depart took up another phase OF
the matter. dealing with the status of
Americans now in foreign countries, -,
Secretary Baker called upon Brig
adler General Crowdcr, judge adpo-
cate general and provost marshall
general Of the army, for an opinion
as to tho effect OF the new law upon
Americans of military age residing
abroad Department officials gcner-
ally have presumed that the privileges
Of citizenship would carry with them
a duty for military service not affected
by foreign residence, but no formal
ruling will be made until the opinion
of General Crowdcr has been received.
Tho question involves to some degree
the specific terms Of the cxtradition
treaties between the United States and
other countries. --s
Many Americans OF military age now
abroad have been eager to enroll
Registration cards have been fur
nished to every American embassy.
legation or consulate. and diplomatic
and consular officials have been au-
thortzed TO act as registration agents.
VIGOROUS MEASURES
TO PREVENT EvASIONS
Meantime. the Department of Justice
is proceeding on the theory that the
departure from American soil of any
citizen subject to the draft Is an. eva
sion of the law.speIt. was revealed to-.
day that steps already had been taken
to prevent such departures. and that
ltf fnn te e.,kt tl,t g..
be met by vigorous measures
Department officials also made It
clear that they would back UP to the
full extent, of their authority the ef-
forts of local officials in the various
communities to put quick end Ito
agitation against the draft. The ar.
rests made during the day throughout
the country were in accordance with
instructions sent from Washington d.
recting Federal agents every ywhere to
take prompt legal steps against any
one seeking to influence eligibles- to
refuse to register.
Discussing reports that many youne
men were leaving the country to avoid
military service. Secretary Baker said
to-day he did not believe ANY SUBJ
stantial number Of Americans" would
take that course. He added that the
ia" was VI Sucn |lsor that II would
be found that any evasion gained in
this way was only temporary.
NO MAN REQUIRED
TO CLAIM EXEMPTION
Another aspect Of military registra-
ton came up during the day when
registration officials throughout the
country were informed that answers
would not be required to the questions
on the registration card as to whether
the individual claims exemption and
OH what grounds The department. has
reached the conclusion that no man
should be required to claim exemption.
There are many who do not care to
do SO, and. under the new ruling, none
will be required to state his position .
until he is summoned for actual sery-
Ice and comes up before the exemption
board.