The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-20
topeka SLACKERS new DRAFT SOON
Government Officials Nab Owen
Cummings, Dover Farmer.
Charge Dozen Others Manipu-
lated Ages to Avoid Draft.

One arrest has been made and a
dozen or more cases are being inves-
tigated in Shawnee county, including
Topeka, in an effort by government
| officials to thwart any possible inva-
sion of registration law here. owen
Cummings, Dover, was arrested Tues
day evening by Assistant United
States Marshal jackson on a charge
of having failed to register. The
complaint upon which the warrant
was issued was sworn to by Fred
Robertson. United States district at
torney. Additional arrests are expect
ed
Cummings. according to govern
ment officials, claims he does. zIpt
know how old he really is but declaB,
ed he believes he is at least 3D.
Neighbors reporting the alleged case
were responsible for an investigation
that led to his arrest. Government
officials claim to be in possession of
information that show the Dover man
is only IS years old.
Cummings was released $500
! bond this morning and returned home
pending his preliminary. He is a
farmer.
Since registration day a dozen or
more cases of possible registration
evasion have been reported in To-
peka to the United States marshaFs
| office by the city registration board,
according to DR.. H. L. Clark, chair
man of the latter body. In every in
today, the man under suspicion
claims he did not have to register be-
cause he was over the draft age. In
vestigation by the board revealed the
fact that these men had been giving
their ages, when voting, as 26, 81, %
or 20 years. An investigation made
/ at places where they were employed
revealed the fact that they gave ages
within the draft ages to their en-
ployers.
| do Tall Explaining"
These fellows said Doctor Clark
today, ARE going to have to do some
tall explaining. We are running down
each case we hear of and are report
ing it to the United States marshafs
office if we think there is a posi-
bility of any evasion.
! 1T is possible of course that a
number of the men under suspicion
may clear themselves. If they do,
however, they'll have to do some call
! explaining. 1t is peculiar thing,
! anyone will admit, when a man who
has been giving his age at less than
| 81 when voting and when applying
for employment will suddenly age
from two to five years when anything
like this comes up
! Investigations being made by the
city registration board are not con-
fined to cases where the age of men
are at question. Several men, ac-
cording to Doctor Clark, have been
! in Topeka who, as far as can be
! learned, have not registered. They
are within the draft age. The city
registration board in going over the
records fails to find any record of
their having registered. Their names
have also been reported to the United
Sta ties marshaPs office.
The city registration board has
been checking up on reported regis
tration evasion cases since registra-
ton day.
+ They're Slackers No More.
lone thing noticeable" said Doc
tor Clark in discussing the investiga
ton, lis the fact that the records show
/ that several young men in this city
who boosted before registration day
that they were not going to register
{ did register. We checked up on these
! fellows the first thing and those that
! did the most talking were the first to
J get to a registration booth.
;, For the last several days we have
been reporting possible evasion cases
to the United States marshal at the
rate of one or two a day. After we
report the cases it is up to the federal
authorities as to what shall be done
AS 1 said before, We are probably GO
ing to have the most trouble with
those who try to manipulate their
ages.
/ Two or three days ago the regis
tration board came across one young
| man, slightly demented, who had fail
ed to register. His case was report
ed to the marshafs office. Govern
ment officials, because of his condi-
/ ton, gave him until today to come to
the city hall and register Up until
/ this afternoon he had not done So
If he fails to comply with orders he
will be arrested.
4 DR.. Clark reiterated his request that
all citizens of the city, as a patriotic