The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-06
DEATH NAY Be
PUNISHMENT
!. OF RESISTERS
Registered Men Who OPP
pose Draft Will Face
! Court Martial
rs NOT QUESTION
= OF POLITICS NOW
Entire Military and Civil
I. Power Of Government
Behind It
fBy Associated Press. !

81
Washington, Aug. 6.-Registered
men who resist the selective draft
law face military court martial for
desertion and the possibility of
execution for desertion in time of
war. -E
The whole military and civil power
OF the. federal government and the
civil power of the states, cities or
counties will be employed to bring
them to book =
This was announced in a formal
statement Saturday night by Provost
Marshal General Crowder in re-
Spouse to reports from North Caro-
lima, 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
Washington of the disturbances was
telegram from the governor of
North Carolina saying that the regis
tered men of two townships in that
state might refuse in body to COM
ply with the the summons for ex-
animation. ".r. 'T.'.''
No official word came from Okla
homa where the most serious situa-
ton prevails. 1t was believed the
governor is confident that order can
be restored without military aid.
There will be no hesitation, however.
in employing federal troops If they
are needed. .,--e
Names Will Be Posted.
In practice under General Crowd
er's construction OF the law register
ed men who do not appear for ex-
animation will be posted to the dis
trict boards as selected for military
service as soon as the f1ve-day per-
iod allowed them to put in an ap-
'pearance after they have been sum-
moned, has elapsed. Two days more
will elapse after their names reach
the district board to await appeal
action by the individual. They will
then be posted to the adjutant gem
eral Of the state as selected to fill
the quotas of their district
Orders for the mobilization of the
selected men will be given some time
during the present month. II the
register fails to obey that order he
will be. sent down as absent without
leave and the machinery Of the army
will be set n motion to bring him in.
In addition all state and municipal
police authorities and u. S. marshals
will be used to apprehend him. VIXEN
1t is clear that he has no intention OF
reporting to the army a charge of
desertion will be placed against him.
From that time on any civil officer
who arrests him will earn a reward
of $50. ~ ~
Liable to Death.
II found guilty by court martial of
desertion, the individual may be SEN
fenced to death and only the presi-
dent can save him from punishment.
General Crowder believes that the
resisters in Oklahoma and elsewhere
are acting under delusion, fostered
probably by agitators. that they are
conducting political campaign
against the draft whereas the time
for that passed when the registration
was completed. The government
takes no interest in their proceedings
now unless they fail to report to
their companies when called. There
is no question involved of civil court
or local juries. Thirteen army off,
GERS will pass on the cases of the
men when they are brought to book
and the armed strength Of the nation
is available to bring them to book.
As to. those who are aiding or abetI
ting the resisters the situation is
different. While the government will
make no effort to bring in men who
do not obey the summons of the local
selection boards or attempt to enforce
their attendance in any way until
they have passed into the military
status, 1t will use every energy to
stamp out disorders designed to pre-
vent the execution of the federal
laws. For this purpose the president
has legal power to employ the army
in any state without. reference TO the
state authorities. q
To Reduce Exemptions.
General Crowder also took action
Saturday to reduce the number of
applications for exemption with
news reports indicate are being filed.
in a telegram to all governors he
directed, that all local boards be in
structed to furnish to newspaper
hereafter from day to day names of
all registered men who apply for
exemption, the grounds asserted to
support each claim and the action
taken by the board. In cases of dis
charge for physical disqualification
this does not apply as they, are not
cases where exemption is claimed
but are the result Of rejection by a
board. The specific reason for re-
lection will not be published. a.
Officials believe the effect of this
order will be to curb applications for
exemption to large extent. Men
who do not have legitimate excuses
are not expected to court, the scorn
Of their neighbors who would recog-
nize the weakness Of their pleas
when published. Men whose cases
are clear, however, and who are en-
titled to exemption officials believe
will be glad to have their neighbors
know their circllmstances and that