Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-08-10

Observation-Disclosures This Week.
Washington, Aug. 6.-Drastic meas
ures are being taken by the Govern
ment to put an end to draft riots and
disorders and effectively squelch reg
istrants who are offering resistance to
the work of organizing the rev ma
tional army. Registrants who refuse
to appear before exemption boards
when called will be treated as de-
serters, hunted down by Federal
troops if necessary and be tried by
court-martial. If found guilty they
may be sentenced to death.
In a statement issued by Provost
Marshal General Crowder following
conferences among officials Of the de-
partment Of justice and the war de-
partment it was announced that 1t
had been definitely decided to send
federal troops into any state IN the
Union, not only TO seek out regis
trants who fail to appear when called
but to quel. any disturbance or torcl-
BILE resistance that may occur.
The action OF the federal autho11-
ties followed swiftly on reports from
Oklahoma and other states of draft
riots and disorders, including the
burning Of one bridge by registrants.
General CroWder also announced
tkat, in order to reduce the number
of those claiming exemption. the
names Of al those who ask and re-
ceive exemption would be published
with the reason for tbs exemption.
The order for the mobilization OF
the draft army will be given during
the present month. General CroWder
also announced. When this order has
been issued ell drafted men who fail
to respond and go to the mobilization
camps will be sought opt and court
martialed, and to aid in this work
the authorities of the various states
will be enlisted. Even any civil otll-
GER who arrests such a deserter will
be paid a reward of $50. From the
decision of such court-martial the
only appeal is to the President.
Orders also have been sent to local
exemption boards urging them to sup
ply to the newspapers every day the
names of all persons claiming exemp-
ton or discharge and the grounds
upon which they claim it.
General Crowder's statement says:
"Press reports and other advices
received indicate that in one or two
widely separated districts, individuals,
n7isinfolmed as to the purpose of the
law and misguided as to its result,
are threatening forcible resistance to
the draft.
"There is nothing to resist at this
stare in the execution Of the law. All
male persons between the ages of
twenty-one ard thirty, inclusive, have
been enrolled for military service. 4
preliminary call has gone forth to
rc2eons, but the Immediate and actual
object of this call is merely to provide
an opportunity for such persons, or
for some one else in respect to them.
to present to the Government reasons
why they should not be finally or
dercd to report for military duty.
"If such persons do not appear and
present these reasons, they have SIM
ply neglected to take advantage of an
opportunity that was offered solely
for their benefit. The failure of per-
sons to take advantage of this oppor-
tunity does not interfere with the
raising of the army ard interests the
Government only as punishable crime
of omission. If they do not desire
to make such claims or if for any
other reason they fail to appear, their
names are automatically posted as
having been called and not exempted
or, discharged, Automatically also
they are inductcd into the military
service and made subject to military
law. Failure to appear merely hast
ems this automatic process.
"When the time allowed for max
ing these claims has elapsed, these
persons will be enrolled as in the mill
tary service. They viii then be or
Gered to appear as soldiers. From
this point OF t!ley will be under the
swift and summary procedure of
cou2.ts-rartial. Failure to report for
military duty when ordered to do so
constitutes desertion. Desertion in
time Of war is CAPITAL offense. De-
sc.teTs may be appreheEded by either
civil or military authority and, after
the mandate of the Federal Govern
ment has gone forth, the whole
strength Of the military arm of the
Government is available to apprehend
deserters, if it is necessary to use
such force.
Demonstrations against local
boards are simply futile strokes in
the air. All the records necessary
to hold such persons are already on
file at State headquarters and at the
national camp, and since local boards
have no occasion to use any force in
simply Offering a beneficial opportSn-
ity to registered persons, there is no
field for resistance. If resistance is
attempted later when the army seeks
to apprehend deserters, it will in
stantly encounter troops of the Fed
eral Government"