Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-24

tanned their twenty-nrst birthday and
who shall not have attained their thirty
first birthday on or before the day here
named are required to register, excepting
only officers and enlisted men Of the
regular army. the navy. the marine
corps and 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 a day for registration will be
named in a later proclamation.
And do charge those who through
sickness shall be unable to present them.
selves for registration that they apply on
or before the day Of registration to the
county clerk OF the county where they
may be for instructions as to how they
may he registered by agent Those who
expect TO he absent on the day named
from the counties In which they have
their permanent homes may register 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 instruc-
tions as to how they may accomplish their
registr etion by mail. In case such per.
sons as through sickness or absence, may
he unable to present themselves personally
for registration shall he sojourning in
cities Of over 5000 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 1900 popu-
lation in which numerous applications
from the sick and from non-residents
are expected are authorized to establish
such sub-asencies and to employ and
deputize such clerical force az may be
necessary to accommodate these applica-
tons.
The power against which We are ar.
rayed has sought to impose its will
upon the world by force. To this end
II has increased armament until II has
changed the face Of war. In the sense
In which we have been wont to think
Of armies there are no armies in this
struggle There are entire nations
armed. Thus. the men who remain to
till the soil and man the factories are
no less a part Of the army that is in
France than the men beneath the bat
tie nags. 1t is, must be SO with us.
1t is not an army that we must shape
and train for war: 1t Is a nation. To
this end our people must draw close
in one compact front against a common
foe But this cannot be II each man
pursues a private purpose. All must
pursue one purpose. The nation needs
all men: hut it needs each man. not in
the dcld that will most pleasure him.
but in the cndeavor that will best serve
the common good. Thus. though a
sharp shooter pleases to operate q trip
hammer for the forging Of great guns
and an expert machinist desires to
march with the nag. the nation Is be-
ing served only when the sharp shoot
er marches and the machinist remains
at his levers. The whole nation must
be a team in which each man shall play
the part for which he is best fitted. Tc
this end, Congress has provided that
the nation shall be organized for wal
by selection and that each man shall
be classified for service in the place tc
| which 1t shall hest service the general
, good to call him.
| THE Significance Of this cannot b>
overstated. 1t Is a new thing in our his
| tory. and a landmark in our progress J.
Is new manner OF accepting ant
vitalizing our duty to give ourselves witt
| thoughtful devotion to the common pur
pose Of US all. 1t is in no sense con
scription OF the unwilling; It Is rather
selection from q nation which has volun
tered in mass 1t is no more CHOOSING
| Of those who shall march with the color
than 1t is a selection of those who shall
serve an equally necessary and devote'
purpose in the industries that lie behin'
| the battle line.
1.-THE day here named is the time upol
which all shall present themselves 10
assignment to their tasks. 1t Is Tor TIA
reason destined to be remembered Is on
Of the most conspicuous moments In on
history. It Is nothing less than the da'
Upon which the manhood Of the countr.
shall step forward in one solid rank
defense Of the Ideals tn which this na0ol
is consecratcd. It Is important to thos
ideals no less than to the pride Of thi
generation in manifesting its devotion t
them that there be no gaps in the ranks.
1T ia essential that the day be ap
preached IN thoughtful apprehension o
its sisnincsnce and that we accord to
the honor and tho meaning that II de
serves Our Industrial need prescribe
that II be not made a technical holiday
but tho stern sacrifice that is before u
urges that 1t be carried in all our heart
as a great DAY ot Pduiouc 0eVotion All
obligation when the duty shall lie upo
every man. whether he is himself to b
registered or not, 10 see to II that tn
name of every male person Of the desiE
mated ages IL written on these lists @
honor.
In witness whereof have hereunt
set my hand and caused the seal OF tn
United States tn be afhxed. Done at tn
city Of Washington. this 18th day OF Ma
! In the year of Our Lord one thousand min
hundred and seventeen. and Of tho inde
I peudence Of the United States 1T Amer
/ lea the ono hundred and forty first,
by the President.
. ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary OF state"