The Washington times., 1917-12-20
GERMANS IN j. S.
TOBE REGISTERED
! BEGINNING JAN. z

Registration OF Germans in the
United states, under the Presidents
alien enemy proclamation will begin
about January =.
Affdavits and forms to be filled out
by the registered men are now in
course of printing, and will soon be
ready. Millions Of them are needed.
In answering questions on these
affidavits and forms every German
Will be compelled to give an intimate
picture of himself and his life his
tory.
The information that must be set
down will include the date and place
OF birth; the time OF coming to this
country; various addresses in this
country with the place OF present
residence: occupations and activities
during the entire time Of residence:
nativity and description OF parents,
and much other information, the
nature OF which will not be divulEed
until the regulations are ready for
publication.
Thousands Under Suspicion.
In every suspicious case statements
on affdavits and forms will not be
accepted as conclusive. Thousands
Of reports from secret agents OF the
Government on German activities in
this country will be used in a general
checking up of such Eases.
Tho Department OF Justice already
has a comprehensive record on 4 host Of
alien enemies whose activities have been
followed since the early days OF the
war. These same secret agents will
f-fnnf-1r-TTra r-DrriErrafHnng That tho
advisability Of Investigation where a
comprehensive record is not already on
file.
Though the proclamation OF the Presi-
dent requiring the registration Of all
Germans in the United States Is now a
month DID, officials OF the Department
of Justice consider that rapid progress
has been made. There were many diff
culties in the way. In the first place a
registering force had to be found 1t
was either necessary to build UP a new
organization, or utilize existing ones.
Use OF the draft boards was suggested.
but rejected on the ground that Tegistra-
tiOR by the draft board might incite un-
rest and suspicion that the men reg
istered were forced in the military serv-
ice. There was no other Federal Or
EIniZation equipped to carry on the
work. 1t has been determined to have
the registration made by the police or
Esnization. In others the work will be
done by postmasters.
Problem An Intricate One.
Under the regulations contemplated by
John Lord o'Brien, who is in charge Of
the work for the Attorney General, those
subject to registration will be put under
the burden OF seeking the registrar.
Fnsl details OF the regulations covering
registration have not yet been completed
by Mr.. OBrien. The problem. he stated
today is an intricate one. The regula-
tions must ut conditions found on the
conEested East Side I'm New York, as
ven as those in the most thinly settled
township in Iowa. They must meet the
situation in every section and quarter
of the United States with q tHo-sided
registering force.
Final determination has not been
reached as to the punishment to be
prescribed for failure to comply with
the proclamation and the regulations.
Registration OF alien enemies in
Canada took six months. Mr.. O'Brien
is confident that it viii be accom-
plished in a much shorter time in the
United States.
Sending out the registration forms
and affidavits during the Christmas
rush might seriously embarass the
postal service of the country, which is
already overburdened. Consequently
they will not be distributed until after
the holidays, when the department eN-
poets to be ready with q completed
registration plan that is bombproof I