Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-01
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ISSUES
DRASTIC INSTRUCTIONS DEAL
ING WITH THOSE WHO PRE-
VENT OPERATION OF LAW.
GERMAMY'S HAND SEEN
IN ANTI-REGISTRY PLOTS
Declare Methods of Opposing Registra
ton Are Similar in Widely Separat-
ed Communities-Depar De-
termined to Enforce Provisions
of Draft Law to the Letter.

Washington, May 80. - Attorney
General Gregory has instructed Unit.
ed States attorneys and marshals
throughout the country to use their ut
most efforts to arrest and prosecute
all persons responsible for the agita-
ton which has manifested itself in To-
calities from New England to Texas
against the registration June 5, of men
subject to selecttve draft.
Officials have undertaken an ex.
haustive investigation to determine Ii
the whole anti-draft sentiment is not
rooted in extensive Vaccinations OF
German propagandists in this country
having a central headquarters.
Methods Everywhere Alike.
Color to this theory is lent by the
marked similarity in the methods Of
procedure in widely separated COM
munities. Some officials believe that
the entire agitation is manufactured
by German agents who, baffled in their
original program calling for an armed
uprising of German reservists in this
country upon Americas entry into the
war, have turned their energies to this
method of hindering the military plans
of the United States.
Will Come to Naught.
If such is the case the conspiracy
will come to nothing, the officials be.
Iieve. The Department of Justice, it
was authoritatively announced, ex.
poets virtually 100 per cent of eligibles
to register, and prompt prosecution
will be instituted in the few cases
where the law is not observed.
To bring out the full registration,
Attorney General Gregory has invited
the entire nation to constitute itself
a committee of the whole and every
man of military age a committee Of
one to report slackers.
Every Man a Committee.
Every man subject to registration
is not only expected by the Depart
ment of Justice to comply with the
law" reads an official statement, "but
also to constitute himself commit
tee of one in his community to see
that each of his acquaintance who
ly reported for prosecution under the
criminal provisions of the law. At
torney General Gregory invites all
young men of the country to cooperate
In the enforcement of the law as a
part of their patriotic duty.
Determined to crush in incipiency
every movement designed to thwart
or interfere with registration as pro-
vided for in the law, the department
is having it's officers throughout the
country arrest promptly all agitators
against compliance with the law.
Police Are Cooperating.
"The department is not dependent
entirely upon it's agencies to discov-
er disloyal activity. State and NUM-
cipal police are cooperating and mem
bers of national patriotic and CONNER.
cial organizations which were enlist
ing after the declaration of a state of
war to guard against all acts inimical
to the general welfare are engaged in
bringing to the attention OF United
States attorneys and marshals all in.
stances of attempts to discourage reg.
astration.
These several agencies will be on
duty June 5, honey-combing the coun-
try to see that every man subject to
registration complies with the law and
that every official delegated to carry
out it's provisions performs his duty
PROPERLY"