The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-05-10
FIRST PAPERS TOMORROW
County Clerk to Act Just as Soon as tbs
Proclamation of the President Is Is
sued - Election Officials to Get
Thanks for Serving Govt Free.

First official notice of the part that
Kenosha is to have in the raising of q
great United States army under the
CONSUMPTION act, reached County Clerk
Russell H. Jones this morning in the
form of a formal letter from Governors
E. L. Philip. County Clerk Jones is
to have charge of the carrying out of
the machinery of the state in making
the first registration of Kenosha county,
men subject to military duty. The
papers relating to the conscription
have been sent to Sheriff Jacob Herr
mann by the war department., but the
governor has instructed him to turn ain
of this matter over to the county clerk
The letter of the governor followss4
May 4, 1911.
Russell FL. Jones, County Clerk,
Kenosha, Wisconsin.
My Dear SIR
The registration of male citizens of
the state of military age will be held
as soon as the bill which is now pend
ing in congress and which is known as
the 'conscription act'' win be approx
ed by the President, which will prob
ably be early next week. / am advised
by the war department that the Presi-l
dent viii issue proclamation inrme-
diately following his approval of this
bill, ordering the registration and
stating the ages of those who's ara
! subject to the enrolment.
1t has been decided by the war de-
partment that this registration shall be-
carried on by the election machinery9
of the state, meaning thereby the reg-l
ularly appointed election clerks and
that the precincts shall be made the
basis of the area, and that the registra-
tions shall be in charge of the usual
| officers and shall be made IN the
booths or halls where elections are
usually held.
It will be your duty, therefore, to
| notify the election officers of your
county IN the same manner that yOua
follow in regular elections. You wilE
receive your final instructions for this
from the secretary of state of Wisconsin.
The necessary blanks and stationery
has been forwarded to the sheriff of
each county by the order of the. secre-
| tary of war. Because of a change made
in the method of securing this. registra-
ton the blanks should go to YOU
and I have instructed the sheriff of
your county to deliver this material to-
| you, and you are directed TO Distribute
the same among the different precincts
of the county on the basis of popula7
ton and the prospective registration.
in the same manner as you distributes
ballots or other election material.
The legislature has passed bill, al
copy of which I enclose herewith
which, as you will note, provides that.
the expenses of this registration shall
be paid in the same manner as the ex-
penses of an election are paid. Iwishj
to say, however, in this connection that
the election inspectors will perform a
patriotic duty if they would render this
service gratutiously. We must all bear,
in mind that this is matter that has
been made necessary because of war
and that the public expenditures Will
be large, and that every citizen should
be willing to contribute his mite TO the
work that we have before us. I, there
fore, ask you to say to the inspectors
that while the town or municipality
will pay. for this service if it is de-
manded, nevertheless, we shall look up
| on it with much favor if it is rendered.
without charge.
I shall issue a proclamation immedi@
ately after the receipt of the procla-
nation of the President which will give
further details. I write this letter to
you today in order that you can make
the necessary preparations, so that the
registration will proceed promptly as
soon as it is ordered by the President
and the dates have been fixed.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this
letter and advise me, particularly on
the point Of whether or not you have
received the printed matter from5
Washington from the sheriff. Also
state that you have made the arrange
ments that are necessary to do the
work successfully.