Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-24
Registration Day

! is the desire of President Wilson and the
national governments desire which has
found fcrvent approval in every section of
the country-that June 5. the day OF regis
tration for military service, shall be made the
occasion OF a great outpourng of patriotic
emotion. The day should be consecrated to
sacrifice and celebrated in that shirt, for
then the young manhood OF the nation an
swering the summons Of duty and humanity
and of civilization itself, will declare its
readiness to die that liberty and justice may
endure.
II will be a solemn occasion. indeed The
Council of NatS1al Defense has suggested
that when the places Of registration omen at
o'clock in the morning church and fire bells
shall be rung and factory whistles blown
There will be no military display we assume
for the President has expressed a wish that
registration shall be conducted by civilian
officials and as a civil, rather than as mill
tary. function. Not gorgeous display. nor
clashing drums and cymbals, nor the boom
OF guns. but the reverent mien and uplifted
spirit Of the people will lend impressiyeness
to the day.
Every man who has attained his twenty
hrst birthday and has not attained his thirty
hrst birthday must submit himself for regis
tration, unless he is member of the army
or navy or OF the National Guard or naval
militia actually i'll the Federal service There
are no other exceptions. The exemptions
which the act authorizes apply to liability
to draft and not to liability to registration.
Married men must register. So must per-
sons with dependents So must workers OF
every kind, however necessary their work
may be TO the prosecution Of the war. So
must aliens. whether enemy or otherwise So
must the clergyman in the pulpit and the
criminal in the Jail. Men of every class and
OF every occupation. white and black rich
and poor. good and bad skilled and unskilIed.
wise and foolish. healthy and sick who are
within tho designated ages and not actually
in the military or naval service OF the govern
ment. must present themselves OH the an
pointed day.
Those who claim exemption must make
their claims. Marriage is not necessarily
har to service. There must be dependencc
OF wife or children, or of both. The man with
a wealthy wife and no children is not excused
from military duty. But this and other SINH
lar questions have nothing to do with the
preliminary duty of registration. That is for
all between twenty-one and thirty-one. Fail
ure TO meet this obligation subjects tho de-
linQuent TO arrest and Imprisonment
Democracy is on trial in this war and
American democracy will be put sternly TO the
test on June .. Some slackcrs there will be
as matter OF course. but the whole conf
munity must set its face against them and
hold them sternly to the tas!. America has
assigned 10 her sons. For the overwhelming
mass OF those called no compulsion, moral or
Otherwise. Will be required They will hear
and heed They should carry with them into
camp and battle the loyal affection of all the
people. They should be nerved and inspired
by the assurance OF support al home That
is why Registration Day should be holy day
1t will be holy 10 those who can read the
signs OF the times and catch glimpse of
what the future holds in store