Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-06
10,500,000 MEN SIGN
CARDS THROUGHOUT
OLD u. S. A.
GET FEW DIRECTORS
REPORTS FROM ALL SECTIONS
OF NATION INDICATE WAR DE-
PARTMENT FIGURES WILL BE
OUT DIsTANcED BY OFFICIAL
RETURNS WHEN FINALLY CON-
PILED.
BY JOHN EDWIN NEViN
international News Service Staff
Correspondent


Washington, June 6.--Gratified be-
yond measure at the great success Of
the registration. Provost Marshal
General Roch II. Crowded., got down
today to the serious business of COM
piling the actual figures. His Office
was deluged with enthusiastic mes
sages from every state governor All
reported that more than 80 per cent of
the total strength Of their common
wealth had enrolled.
Definite figures were coming in very
slowly, The war department be-
lieved that the complete total would
be between 10.500,000 and l0,750,000
when all figures are in. But 1t may
be three or four days before the COM
plete reports all are available altho.
tentative figures by states will be
ready before the day Is out.
Even the complete figures first re-
ported are certain to be changed
Foreign registration has been author
lied but time will be needed to get
the figures back here And the war
department, with the sanction of the
department of Justice, has agreed to
open the gates to the men who failed
completely to realize their obligations
yesterday. AS
It is stated that all men OF eligible
age who have not registered can give
their names to the proper authorities
and If they do this before information
is lodged against them they will be
registered Several thousand are
certain to at once take advantage Of
this ruling. One reason for the rul.
ing was the fact that the elaborate
volunteer machinery for recording
the eligibles slipped cog In certain
places and there were many men who
| found 1t impossible to register
AS soon as the complete reports are
received here General Crowder will
take up the question OF naming ex-
emption boards and Of fixing the date
for the drawing of the eligibles to
make up the first eligible army. In
the meantime general drive to re-
cruit the regular army and the ma.
tional guard to complete war strength
has been begun and officials are hope.
full that many of the young men who
registered yesterday, will enroll them
selves in these organizations before
being drafted so that the distinct vol
unteer character of these units shall
he preserved
The fact that registration day has
passed with not mean relaxation of
vigilance on the part of the 100, 900
agents of the department of justice
charged with seeing to 1t that slack
ers do not escape enrolment. The
ports along borders will be watched
with special care for those who failed
to register in the hope Of slipping out
of the country before the officers have
opportunity to cheek up the rolls with
the population
Some time will be required for the
federal officers to sift the information
lodged with them by special agents
not themselves authorized to make ar
; rests There are thousands of sucf
agents who yesterday quietly observed
the actions of persons in their juris
dictions and noted them Tor the in
formation of The proper authorities.
Jefferson City. Mo, June Mis-
? souris total registration will be ap
I proXimately $4,000, according to esti
[ mates based on partial returns at TIN
] Office of Adlutaut General McCord to
day. Registration passed OIL beautl
t fully in Missouri said the adjutan
s general
@ The President has extended the tim
n for certain couDties on account 9
woshouts and the destruction OF tn
bridges.
- Dancing at Mckinley fark
r. Thursday night, June s. l0l1
., To Get Another Chance,
= Washington, June G. Provost Mar
a shal General Crowder today otliciall.
pf confirmed the statement the mos
,s liberal construction viii be placed OF
st the registration laws Persons who
ii. for any reason, were unable to regis
ter on registration day will be givel
10 another opportunity The provost mai
Of shal general so notified all governors
w II II Ia found that the government pol
tn cy of lberality is being abused NOR
III .---..-------.-----------.-
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