Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-30
Texas Organization Plans to
intimidate Persons Subject
to Registration and Off,
ciaIS in Charge.
COMPLETE EVIDENCE or
PLOT OF VIRGlNlANS
Government Prepared to In
fIict Promptly Penalties of
Twenty Years ImpriSon-
ment or $4,000 Fine.

Washington, May 29.-~Attorney
General Gregory tonight instructed
United States attorneys and marshals
throughout the country to use their
utmost efforts to arrest and prosecute
all persons responsible for the agi-
tation which has manifested itself In
localities from New England to Texas
against the registration June s of men
subject to selective draft
The agitation has made itself felt
somewhat in many sections, but thus
far there apparently is little connec-
ton between the outbreaks. Off
ciSls have undertaken an exhaustive
investigation to determine If the whole
anti-draft sentiment is not rooted In
extensive Vaccinations of German
propagandists in this country having
a central headquarters.
Pro-German Responsible.
Color to this theory is lent In some
degree by the marked similarity in
the methods of procedure in widely
separated communities. Some Off
cials believe that the entire agitation
is manufactured by German agents,
who, baffled in their original program
of calling for an armed uprising of
German reservists in this country upon
Americas entry into the war, have
turned their energies to this method
of hindering the military plans of the
government.
II such is the case, the conspiracy
will come to nothing, officials believe.
The department of Justice, II is au-
thoritatively announced tonight, ex-
Fects virtually 100 per cent of ell
Biblss III register and prompt prose-
cution under the criminal provisions
of the law Will be instituted In the
few cases where the law is not OBJ
served
VIII Report Siackcrs.
To bring out the full registration,
Attorney General Gregory today in.
Vited the entire nation to constitute
Itself committee of the whole and
every man of military age q commit
tee Of one to report slacKers.
Attorney General Gregory invites
all young men of the country to CO.
operate in the enforcement OF the law
as a part of their patriotic duty"
reads an official statement.
Determined TO crush in lncipiency
every movement designed to thwart
or interfere with registration as pro-
vided for in the law, the department
Is having its officers throughout the
country arrest promptly all agtators
against compliance with the law.
Cooperation Effective.
THE department. is not dependent
entirely upon its agencies to discover
disloyal activity. State and municipal
police are cooperating and members
of national patriotic and commercial
organizations which were enlisted af- |
ter the declaration of q state OF war |
to guard against all acts inimical to |
the general welfare are engaged in ,
bringing to the attention of the Unit |
ed states attorneys and marshals al! |
instances of attempts TO discourage |
registration.
These several agencies will be on
duty June 5, honeycombing the coun-
try to see that every man subject to
registration complies with the law and ,
that every official delegated to carry
out its provisions performs his duty
Instructions Specific.
All these officials will be protected |
In the performance of their duty |
heavily protected in communities
where the agitation has manifested
itself The instructions sent to all |
United States attorneys and marshals
reads as follows:
sistance to the registration on June 6,
under the selective service act, having
reached the department of justice, 1t
Is deemed expedient to issue the fol-
lowing instructions to you:
Attention Is called to the duty en-
Joined upon you of protecting to the
fullest extent, the registrars and 9th.
ers carrying the law into effect, and
TO the corresponding duty to arrest
and prosecute all persons evading. or
encouraging evasion Of the law, or
seeking to hinder, prevent, or delay
those who are well disposed and would
otherwise be inclined to be obedient.
VIII Prosecute Slackers.
= Furthermore, the utmost efforts of
your respective offices should be di-
rected to ascertaining the name and
finding the locations of men subject
10 registration who fail or refuse to
register, in order that criminal prose-
,utions may be instituted as directed
by the act"
Men who wish exemption from draft
may claim it before local exemption
boards regardless of whether they an
swer yes or mo- to the question
DO you claim exemption from draft ?"
before registration officials next Tues
lay.
THE answer of yes of this ques-
ion does not exempt one from draft"
said Provost Marshal General Crow
Ter tonight, 'and the answer mo- is
10 bar to making u claim for exemp-
ion later"
President Wilson's war message of
April will be handed TO every man
who registers as he leaves the regis
ration place, by women working un-
Ter the direction of the women's COM
nittee of the council of national de-
ense, headed by DR.. Anna Howard I
shaw. Plans for the distribution were {
announced today and women volun-
GERS in every community were asked /
o report to the head Of their local de-