Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1917-05-26
Proclamation of
The President
0CONTINUED IRON FACE II


counties and of cities Of over $1,000
population U which numerous applica
tons from the sick and from non resi-
dents are expected are authorized 10 es
tablish such subageucles and TO employ
and deputizc such clerical force n may
be necessary 20 accommodate these ap-
plications
The power against which We are ar
rayed has sought to impose IT. viii
upon the world by force TO this end
II has increased armament until il has
changed the face of war. In the sense
in which we have been wont 10 think
Of armies there are no armies m this
struggle There are entire nations
armed Thus, the men who remain 20
till the soil and man the factories are no
less part Of the army that l. in France
than the men beneath the battle flags
II must be so with Us IL - not an
army that we must shape and tram for
war il il nation 10 this end our
people must draw close IN one compact
front against common foe But this
cannot be If each man pur-ues a private
purpose All must pursue one purpose.
The nation needs all men but Il needs
each man. not in the field that will most
please him. but IN the endeavor that will
best serve the common good Thus
though a sharpshooter pleases to oper
ate a trip hammer for the forging of
great guns and an expert machlnist de
slres TO march with the flag, the nation
is being served only when the sharp
shooter marches and the nachinist re-
mains al his levers The whole nation
must be team in which each man
shall play the part for which he is best
fitted To this end Congress has pro
vidcd that the nation shall be organized
for war by selection and that each man
shall be classified for service in the
place to which il shall best serve the
general good 10 call him
The significance of this cannot hc
overstated II Is new thing IN our
history and a landmark in our progress
II il a new manner OF accepting and
vitalizIng our duty to give ourselves
with thoughtful devotion 10 the common
purpose of US all II is in no sense a
CONSUMPTION Of the unwilling It Is
rather. selection from nation which
has volunteered in mass. IL Is no more
a choosing Of those who shall march
with the colors than it Is a selection Of
those who shall serve an equally neces-
sary and devoted purpose IN the indus
tries that lie behind the battle line
The day here named i the time upon
which all shall present themselves for
assignment to their tasks. II IL for that
reason destined to be remembered as
one of the most conspicuous moments IN
our history II Is nothing less than the
day upon which the manhood of the
country shall step forward in one solid
rank in defense Of the ideals to which
this nation il consecrated II Is inn
portant to those ideals no less than to
the pride Of this generation IN NANTES
ting its devotion 10 them. that there be
no gaps in the ranks.
1t it essential that the dag be APP
preached in thoughtful apprehension Of
its significance and that we accord to
il the honor and the meaning that Il
deserves Our industrial need pre-
scribes that it be not made a technical
holiday, but the stern sacrifice that IS
before US urges that il be carried IN all
our hearts as 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. 10 see
to it 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
nited States to be affixed
Done at the city Of Washington this
18th day of Nav in the Year Of Our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventeen. and of the Independence OF
the 'nited States the one hundred and
forty first.
WOODROW WILSON
By the President
ROBERT LANSING, Sec'y OF state