The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-19
A PROCLAMATION
BY the President Of the United States.

on or before the day here named required to
register, excepting only officers and enlisted
or the regular army, the navy. the Marine Corps
ana the National Guard and Naval Militia while
In the service Of the United States. and officers In
the Officers Reserve Corps and enlisted men in
the enlisted reserve corps while in active service.
In the Territories of Alaska, Hawaii and Porto
Rico day for registration will be named in a later
proclamation.
AND DO CHARGE those who through sick
ness shall be unable to present themselves for
registration that they apply before the day
OF registration to the County Clerk of the county
where they may be for instructions as to how they
may be registered by agent. Those who expect to
be absent on the day named from the counties in
which they have their permanent homes may regis
ter by mail but their mailed registration cards
must reach the places in which they have their
permanent homes by the day named herein. They
should apply as soon as practicable to the County
Clerk of the county wherein they may be for in
structions to how they may accomplish their
registration by mail In case such persons
through sickness or absence, may be unable TO
present themselves personally for registration shall
be sojournng in cities OF 10000 population
they shall apply to the City Clerk of the city
wherein they may be sojourning rather than to
the clerk Of the county. The clerks Of counties
and of cities Of over 10000 population in which
numerous applications from the sick and from
non-resdents expected authorized to
tablish such agencies and to employ and deputiZe
such clerical force may be necessary to accom-
modate these applications.
The Power against which are arrayed has
sought to impose its will upon the world by force
To this end it has increased armament until It has
changed the face OF war In the sense in which
have been wont to think of armies there
armies in this struggle, there entire nations
armed. Thus the men who remain to till the soil
and man the factories less part OF the
army that is FTance than the men beneath the
battle flags.
1t must be o>wth 1t is not army that
we must shape and train for war; it is a nation.
To this end people must draw close in
compact front against a common foe. But this
cannot be il each man pursues a private purpose.
All must pursue one purpose.
The nation needs all men, but it needs each
man. not in the field that will most pleasure him
but in the endeavor that will best serve the com
mon good. Thus. though a sharpshooter pleases
to operate a triphammer for the forging OF great
guns. and an expert machnist desires to march with
the flag. the nation is being served only when the
sharpshooter marches and the machinist remains
The whole nation must be q team in which each
man shall play the part for which he Is best fitted
To this end Congress has provided that the nation
shall be organized for war by selection and that
each man shall be classified for service in the place
to which 1t shall best serve the general good to
call him
The significance of this cannot be overstated
1t is new thing in history and a landmark
in our progress. 1t is new manner of accepting
and vitazing our duty to give ourselves with
thoughtful devotion TO the common purpose of us
all. 1t IS in no sense a conscrpton Of the n
willing; it is rather selection from a nation which
has volunteered in mass. 1t is no more choos-
ing of those who shall march with the colors than
1t is a selection OF those who shall serve
equally necessary and devoted purpose in the In
dusries that lie behind the battle line.
The day here named is the time upon which
all shall present themselves for assignment to
their tasks. 1t is for that reason destined to be
remembered of the most conspicuous
moments in history. 1t is nothing less than
the day upon which the manhood of the country
shall step forward in solid rank in defence OF
the ideals to which this nation is consecrated. 1t
is important to those ideals. less than to the
pride of this generation in manfestng its devotion
to them, that there be gaps in the ranks.
II IL essential that the day be approached In
thoughtful apprehension Of Its significance and that
we accord to II the honor and the meaning that
II deserves Our industrial need prescribes that II
be not made technical holiday, but the stern
rfce that Is before urges that II be carried In
all our hearts a great day OF patriotic devotion
and obligation, when the duty shall lie upon every
man. whether he Is himself to be registered or
not, to to II that the name Of every male per.
son OF the designated ages Is written on these
lists OF honor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal OF the United States
to be affixed. Done at the city OF Washington
this 18th day of May In the year Of Lord
one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. and
of the independence Of the United States of America
the one hundred and forty-frs
BY THE PRESIDENT.
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary OF State.