Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-08-08
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FIGHT
Anti-Draft Agitators-Dodgers May
Face Firing Squads.

Washington, Aug. 5.-Registered
men who resist the selective draft
law face military court-martial for
desertion and he possibility Of exc
cution, and the municipal and police
authorities of the cities and towns
and the military power of the States,
cities or counties will be employed to
bring them to book.
This was announced in formal
statement tonight by Brig. Gen.
Crowder, provost marshal general,
in response to reports from North
Carolina, Georgia and Oklahoma, Of
anti-draft disturbances. AS yet the
power Of the Federal government has
not been invoked by the Governors
OF the three States nor by the agents
of the Department OF Justice. The
only official notice received in Wash
ington Of the disturbances was tele-
gram from the Governor of North
Carolina, saying that the registered
men of two townships in that State
might refuse in a body to comply
with the summons for examination.
No official word came from Okla
homa, where the most serious situa-
tion prevails. 1t was believed the
Governor, both in his official capacity
and as the direct agent of the Presi-
dent in the execution Of the draft
law, Is confident that order can be
restored without military aid. There
will be no hesitation, however, in
employing Federal troops if they are
needed.
Gen. Crowders Statement.
Gen. Crowder's statement, formu-
lated after conference with officials
OF the Justice Department, follows:
Press reports and other advices
received indicate that in one or two
widely separated districts individ-
uals; mlsinformed as to the purpose
OF the law and misguided as to it's
result, are threatening forcible re-
sistance to the draft.
There is nothing to resist at this
stage in the execution of the law. All
male persons between the ages of FL
and 30, inclusive, have been enrolled
for military service. A preliminary
call has gone forth to some such per-
sons, but the immediate and actual
object of this call Is merely to pro-
vide an opportunity for such per-
sons, or for some one else in respect
or them, to present to the government
reasons why they should not be final
~ ordered to report for military
duty If such persons do not appear
ana present these reasons they have
simply neglected to take advantage
or an opportunity that was offered
solely for their benefit. The failure
or persons to take advantage of this
opportunity does not interfere with
the raising Of the army and interests
the government only as punisha able
crime Of omission. If they do not
desire to make any such claims, or If
for any other reason, they fail to an
pear, their names are automatically
posted as having been called and not
exempted or discharged. Automati-
cally, also they are inducted into the
military service and made subject to
military law. Failure to appear
merely hastens this automatic pro-
cess.
Penalty for Desertion.
when the time allowed for maxi
ing these claims has elapsed, these
persons will be enrolled as in the
military service. They will then be
ordered to appear as soldiers. From
this point on they will be under the
swift and summary procedure of
court-martial. Failure to report for
military duty when ordered to do so
constitutes desertion. Desertion in
time Of war is a capital offense. De-
serters may be apprehended by
either civil or military authority,
and, after the mandate Of the Fede-
raj government has gone forth, tn e
whole strength Of the military arm
OF the government Is available to ap-
prehend deserters. If 1t is necessary
to use such force.
Demonstrations against local