New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-06
Washington Officially
Reports Only Four
Arrests
Exemption Query
Generally Ignored
Final Totals Will Not
Be Known Until
Thursday


Washington, June 5.-The young
manhood of the nation registered itself
for war up TO the full extent of its
power to-day.
There was no serious disorder.
Rough estimates returned tonight
indicate that men Of military age gave
to the country's call for war an answer
even beyond the expectations of the
War Department. IL seemed certain at
midnight that the total number of per-
sons subject TO conscription to register
to-day will exceed by hundreds OF
thousands the War Department esti-
mate of 1O,264,s96.
This became evident early in the day.
Reports from widely scattered districts
showed that registration had been held
up by the exhaustion of the supply OF
blanks. The government had allotted
these in accordance with the registra-
tion it expected in each locality. The
fact that they were used up so quickly
shows that men have come forward
beyond all expectations.
Forced to Close by Rush
In some cities the tide flowed so
swiftly and heavily into the registra-
ton booths that these were forced TO
close down for a time while more
blanks were printed. In Cleveland the
booths were obliged to close twice. In
New Orleans and Detroit the rsgistra-
tion continued until long past midnight.
CLERKS. who had worked all day. had
been unable to care for the throngs OF
applicants by the time 9 o'clock came.
Permission was then obtained from
Washington TO keep open uEtil the last
man had been registered.
The rumors. Of German plots. the
vague murmurs Of radical conspiraeies
to defeat the draft, were swept away,
like the cobwebs they were. before the
tremendous tide OF men that flowed IN
and out of the registration oi'lces all
day long.
In no city or section was serious
trouble reported. Here aud there ar
rests of individual agitators were
made. In some places there was con
fusion. owing TO lack of interpreters
to handle the foreign born popula-
tion.
Great Task Ahead
From practically every state in the
Trrion Provost Marshal General Crow
der. Federal supervising officer Of the
great ENTERPRISE, received reassuring
messages.
Complete quiet throughout the day
and full. spontaneous registration, ran
the burden of these kilograms.
So great Is the task which now con-
fronts the registrars in Classifying
and tabulatng the returns that the
provost marshal said tonight that nc
did not expect registration reports
from any state until tomorrow. ~
win probably be Thursday before the
final returns are IN.
When the provost marshal generals
Office closed at midnight no registration
report from any state had been re-
celved.
More encouraging to officials than
the great response TO the nations call,
which now promises to run we'll above
10 per cent. of the country's estimated
population, wos the spirit in which
most Of the men entered the booths
and pledged themselves TO America.
This is shown by the refusal Of hun
dreds of thousands to answer the
twelfth question, DO you claim eX-
emption ?" Thousands with depend
ents. men with physical defects that
obviously disqualfy them from service,
refused to ask for exemption. They
are ready 70 do their part.
Nebraska Rallies
Nebraska, the home of Bryan and
Senator Norris, a leader Of the paci-
fists. reported early that the total
registration of the state would be in
the vicinity OF 10000. or approximate
ly $4,000 more than the estimate Of
the War Department of eligibles in
the state. On the other hand, Balti-
more, basing its estimate on early re
turns, placed the registration of Mary
land at from so 10 50 per cent OF the
War Departments estimate.
In Pennsylvania registration ex-
cecded the estimates. Philadelphia's
total will not be much below 100000
and Pittsburgh reports more than lSl,-
900 registered. The total for the state
is placed about 100000.
Kansas ran behind the departments
estimate, with a total of about 10000
as compared with 10000. With the
returns practically conplete, Governor
Edge, of New Jersey. gives that state
a total registration of 303.797, or 5000
below the War Department estimate.
North Carolina, on the other hand,
early gave promise of exceeding the
1874 900 expected, incomplete returns
from some counties showing more men
registered than il had been thought
the entire county would produce.
Ohio reported an unusually heavy
registration in the cities, with the
chances favoring a total in excess OF
500 900. or slightly more than tne
estimate. Indiana also reported
registration of at least 100 per cent
This was also the promise OF Illinois,
where registration was hampered py
heavy storms. which made registra-
tion IN the rural districts dificult.
Indians Register in South
In the far South. Florida reported .
total of about 100000. In that state the
Creek Indians were among the hrst 70
register. Texas reported heavy reg
is,reticn in the cities. Reports from
New Orleans indicated some dif1cul5
l., rao;s,ar;po % the roIored eliRibles.