The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-05-25

tratlon IN the several states and IN the
District of Columbia, in accordance
with the above law, that the time and
place Of such registration shall be be-
tween seven A nj. and nine P. M., on
the fifth day Of June, 1917, at the regis
! tration place in the precinct wherein
they have their permanent homes.
Those who shall have attained their
Itwenty-first birthday and who shall
not have attained their thirty-first
birthday on or before the day here
named are required to register, ex-
cepting only officers and enlisted men
Of the regular army, the navy, the ma
rine 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 service corps while
in active service. In the territories of
Alaska, Hawaii and Porto Rico day
for registration will be named in
later proclamation.
And / do charge those who through
| sickness shall be unable to present
themselves for registration that they
apply on or before the day of registra-
ton to the county clerk of the county
where they may be for instructions as
to how they may be registered by
agent. Those who expect to be 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 prac-
ticable to the county clerk of the
county wherein they may be for in
StructiOns as to how they may accom-
pliSh their registration by mail. In
case such persons as, through sick
ness or absence, may be unable to pre-
sent themselves personally for regis
tration shall be sOjourning in cities of
over 10000 population, they shall ap-
ply to the city clerk of the city where
in they may be sojourning rather than
to city clerk of the county. The clerks
Of counties and of cities of over 3d.
900 population, in which numerous ap-
plicationS from the sick and from non
residents are expected are authorized
to establish such Sub-agencieS and to
employ and deputize such clerical
force as may be necessary to accom-
modate these applications
The power against which we are
arrayed has sought to impose its will
upon the world by force. To this end
1t has increased armament until it 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 tagS. 1t must be so with US 1t is
not an army that we must shape and
tram for war, it is a nation. To this
end our people must draw close in one
compact front against a common foe.
But this cannot be if each man pur-
sues a private purpose.
All must pursue one purpose The
nation needs all men: but it needs
each man, not in the field that will
most pleasure him, but in the endeavor
that will best serve the common good.
Thus, though Sharpshooter pleases
to operate trip-hammer for the forg-
ing OF great guns, and an expert ma
chlnlst desires to march with the flag,
the nation is being served only when
the SharpshOOter marches and the ma
chlnlSt 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. To this end, congress
has provided that the nation shall be
organized for war by selection and
that each man shall be classified for
service in the place to which it shall
best serve the general good to call
him.
The significance Of this cannot be
oVerStated 1t is a new thing in our
history and landmark in our prog
ress. 1t is a new manner of accepting
and vitalizing our duty to give our
selves with thoughtful devotion to the
common purpose of us all. 1t is no
sense conscription of the unwilling;
it is rather, selection from a nation
which has volunteered in mass. 1t is
no more a choosing of those who shall
march with the colors than it is
selection of those who shall serve an
equally necessary and devoted purpose
in the industries that lie behind the
battle line.
The day here named is the time
upon which all shall present them
selves for assignment to their tasks.
1t is for that reason destined to be re-
uleuDSIeu DIS one Oh the ulOSI COuSplC-
uous moments in our history. 1t 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 is
consecrated. 1t is important to those
ideals no less than to the pride of
this generation in manifesting its de-
votion to them that these be no gaps
in the ranks.
1T is essential that the day be ap-
preached in thoughtful apprehension
of its significance and that we accord !
to it the honor and the meaning that
it deserves Our industrial need pre-
scribes that it be not made technical /
holiday, but the stern sacrifice is be-
fore US, urges that it be carried in all
our hearts as great day Of patriotic
devotion and obligation when the duty |
shall lie upon every man, whether he
is himself to be registered or not, to
see to it that the name of every male
person OF the designated ages Is writ