The Robesonian., 1917-08-09
ANT1-DRAFT AGITATION

/ ANAA-OnAFI AGITATION
he'lStaHce to Draft Reported in Some
Sections of N. C. But it is Thought
That it Will Not Amount to Any
thing Governor Issues Hot Letter
A Raleigh dispatch states that Gov.
Beckett and other State officials are
/ satisfied that reported resistance to
the selectlve draft in Chatham coun-
ty and elsewhere in the State will not
amount to anything, but they are de-
termlned to summarily punish any
who commit reasonable acts by word
or deed.
Inc war Department takes the po
sltlon that the act of registering un-
der the selective draft act waived
any rlght to raise a question of con-
! stitutlonality and that the appearance
before exemption boards is only op
tlonal with those registered, as they
are now regularly members Of the ar
my and that when they are actually
called to muster in they will be court
martlaled it they do not appear. Gov.
! Beckett thinks that the whole resis-
tance IN this State is nothing more
than a lot of foolish talk by some
hot heads who will be summarily
taught better if they do not change
their attitude or hold their tongues.
Gov. Beckett received the other day
from Solicitor Siler and Sheriff Lane
a joint letter indicating a rebellion
in embryo in Chatham. On the
strength of that letter the Governor
issued letter in which he denounced
strongly any anti-draft activities. His
: letter follows:
: "Your joint letter of August re-
f ceived and carefully considered. In
S it you say:
e "'Certain parties in this county are
: quoted to be soliciting funds from
t men drafted, using the argument that
: the draft law is unconstitutional and
t proposing employ counsel to test it,
0 ETC., ard are using language that is
calculated to arouse the ignorant
e against the government. Each day
/ We hear of this going on in different
e sections, and greatly fear that we are
: going to have a serious situation IN
g certain sections unless something car
: be done to stop it. In one township
we learn that an effort is being made
to prevent any man whose name has
n been drawn among the first to be ex
amined to appear and various othe1
r things are being done that may give
TO us trouble
/. "In reply | beg to advise that th'
al the constitution of the United State
h clothes the Congress with power 't
x declare war, to raise and support ar
ly les and to make all laws which shal
be necessary and proper for carryin
into execution the foregoing powers
to sTn strict conformity to the con
st:tutional powers so conferred, Cor
OF gress has, with practical unanimlty
er declared that state of war exist
re between the United States and tn
ct irlperial German government, eni ha
n enacted the seiective draft law fo
IN the purpose of raising an army
car1v on the war Sc declared.
= Will Not Tolerate Treason
ed "The nation is, therefore, lawful
ly at war Through its accredited re!
If resentatives it has declared its wi
and fixed it's course. There was
time for difference ard debate. Tn;
= time has now expired. We are in
=. death grapple with the enemy, an
the man who in this perilous hot
81 lifts voice or hand to weaken the nj
81 tons will or shorten its arm is
traitor to his country and frier
i to it's foes. He is more than ira
tor. He is a murderer. ANY wol
spoken. any deed done to hinder tf
vigorous prosecution Of the we
means prolongation of the war ar
this means added loss of life:
"The men who for love OF none
are promising to show registrar
q wav of escape from their duty hay
sounded the depths of infamy her
tofore unknown. Send me their name
and l promise that they shall
forever pilloried in peoples col
tempt.
"The constitution defines treaso
against the United States to be 'gl'
mo aid and comfort to their enemies
Every discordant note is comfort
the kaiser. Every attempt to preve,r
the nation from presenting SOL
front is strength to his arm.
"T do not propose to tolerate tres
son in North Carolina by word
deed, if there be power in State G
Federal law to prevent it. You an
all sheriffs and solicitors in the Stat
ara directed to report by wire to tn
United States district attorney an
to this office any man who, by Wor
~ deed. piyes aid and comfort to til
enemy by seeking to palsy the NJ
t;on's arm as it is raised to strlk
immediate and drastic action WILL .
taken upon every report and men Wh
q thus desert their country in its hou
& If peril will be made to feel Tn
strong arm of the law"
,.u Al e.. Death Penalty fC