New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
Getting Registered
Some of the Tribulations OF an On-
willing Stacker

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: He wasn't a Stacker, but he hadn't
registered When he pitched down the gang
plank from a Japanese steamer to the san
Francisco wharf and well-mesning frienas
surrounded him about the first words tney
said were: "And have you registered yet
OF course he had not, for he had been IN
Russia, and lived in New York, so how couio
he possibly have done so?
Nevertheless, the negative answer had
sinister sound, so he resolved to make 1t an
affirmative as soon as possible. In Washing
ton, when he arrived, they told him at tne
War Department TO go over and see froVos'
Marshal General Crowder about his trouble.
OF course, he couldn't see the provost marsnal
general. but after time he wrote an appear
ing statement of his case to the provost mar
shall generals Office, and in due time receNeo
4 nice. thick booklet telling all about the
registration regulations. Paragraph 90 was
indicated as covering his case, and 1t said
that persons who had been abroad on June
must register within five days after returning
N the limited States He had already been
more than five days getting this mucn in,or,
nation, so when his New York friends asked
the same old question he felt gutter than
ever when he had to say no.
Besides, he couldn't look policeman IN
that some suspicious Hibernian guardian OF
tho law would demand his registration card
The papers were full Of nasty things about
sIarkers. and he came to have hang-dog,
Emma Goldman kind of feeling every time ne
nassed a recruiting station. He had an afro
cious number Of things to do, and the damp
weather was making a regular gas attack on
his bunions, but, nevertheless, he appeared
promptly at the City Clerks Office at s;9o
O'Clock the other morning In the DOCKET ne
had found words whose dim meaning seemed
70 indicate that II was to the City CLERKS
Office he should go.
AT the general Office man told him through
a nice. little, provoking square window, ike
a Russian ticket Office, that he must move on
to the next floor above. where the horarlah
held forth The kind gentleman In attend
ance there listened to his tale OF woe Win
commendable equanimity and then mildly
stated there seemed to have been time IN
some unindicated past when people regis
tered at the City Clerks Office under just
such conditions, but now "they didn't do It
anv more" The involuntary Stacker felt
blood in his eye and inquired if there was
place where he could register. The nice gen.
tleman replied, in a seemingly apologize
tone: !,
"You see, I don't know exactly. Practi-
callv all the information we have here we
get from The New York Tribune; and as II
TO prove the words true he lifted large
batch of clippings from his desk. The tired
Young man looked carefuly-they were Trio-
une clippings.
where do you live?" the nice gentleman
asked and when the young seeker for knowi-
edge gave his address he began scanning the
CLIPPINGS. Finally he walked TO some maps
of the city which showed the various Assem-
blv districts and voting precincts and ascer-
tanned the correct number. Returning to the
newspaper clippings, he searched them until
he found list that enumerated all the DIS
tricts of the city and gave the name and ad-
dress of the chairman Of each exemption
board in each precinct. He kindly let the
young man copy the proper address from the
newspapers list.
"I've no idea when you can see him. ne
volunteered. He seemed little uncertain
whether the chairman Of the exemption board
was the proper man to register with after all.
Curious way for you to have to get your
information" the young man remarked as ne
picked up his hat.
$50 Il IS" agreed the nice gentleman, with
out enthusiasm; "but it's just about all
we get"
The young man hasn't been able to make
connections with the intangible, almost legen-
dary. chief Of his exemption board yet, so he
is still Stacker and may get into Jail.
New York, July Is, 1917. Y.