The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-06
BOTH SOLEMN AND JOYOUS

l | some time in the several lines dur 1 ing the day.
 BOTH SOLEMN AND JOYOUS | The occasion in Birmingham was l both solemn and joyous and during l the day, until g o'clock last night, l when the registrat tion places were 1 closed, the steady line of men be- tween the ages of 21 and 31 years gave evidence of the feeling over the country in the present crisis. Instead | of having sad and dspiriting touch the occasion rather was one of merry making, the thousands exemplifying l unmistakable evidence of loyalty at the various registration places. l So enthusiastic were the thousands | in Greater Birmingham the captains at the registration places provided addi- | tional chairs, tables and registration officers. Birmingham women, who l were named several weeks ago to visit | the several boxes, were of great aid in | the work.
 When the clocks tolled yesterday morning hundreds of whites and blacks were in line at the city haI, l where there were two boxes City | Clerk Lloyd, who was in charge of the registration in Greater Birmingham, found it necessary to swear in addi- | tional registrars, and at several of the
  in order that all young men might register before closing time NEGROES ALL ANSWER One of the most surprising and grat- l flying features of the registration was the number of negroes who came for I ward placed their names, description, l and other information the card. l These negroes were in line before o'clock and all were anXiously await ing the time to answer the call. | "The government figured that about 40 per cent of those who were expect | ed to register in the south yesterday would be negroes said Clerk Lloyd, | but it appears now that the figures will be changed in Birmingham to GO per cent negroes. The number of ne groes to come to the precin.t boxes surprised us even though we Lad made plans to care for them at sep arate boxes. The negro registration officers showed unusual attention to | their duties and without them the
 white officers would have been in
 position that would have required a strain to look after"
 Birmingha officials estimated that
 there would be 1s,000 to register. but conservative estimates last night
 placed the number at between 2n,00e and 25.000. Until the returns have been
 compiled in the office of the clerk the
 exact number will not be available.
 WARD ISSUES STATEMENT
 Mayor George B. Ward wishes to thank each and every one who acted as a regis
 trar yesterday depriving themselves of their dinner and supper, serving from '
 in the morning until o'clock at night,
 free of charge to the city.
 "It was indeed patriotic service and it
 has enabled the city of Birmingham to present to the United States government
 this registration without expense to Uncle
 Sam. it being the gift of the people of
 Birmingham enirely," said Mayor Ward. ) Birmingham was the first municipality in the United States to subscribe for lib- , erty bondss having taken S100000 worth. Governor Harding states that he thinks : there is no doubt that Birmingham will
 receive Bond No l of that denomination
 to be issued by the United States govern
 ment.
 The city of Birmingham is presenting the registration to the United States gov ernment free of cost.
 over 800 registrars handled the 5e reg istration boxes.
 "The city declined to use the govern
 ment postage frank on the registration machinery which runs up into a large sum.
 HAD COLORED REGISTRARS 'sBirmingham is the only city that desg- |
 colored population who are required to
 register They showed themselves very
 grateful for this consideration and re-
 sponded in a fine way.
 "Estimates based on late returns show
 over 25000 registered.
 "The government basis of 10 per cent oi population would require about 17,500 on a
 population of 115, 900.
 f Owing to confusion the government
 could not supply the city with full sup
 ply of forms, blanks stationery. etc. ..kanc
 nearly all forms were reprinted in large
 quantities at the city's own expense. Registration day has passed with nc I disturbance or friction and no arrest O. , any kind. So far as is shown on thu , surface, Birmingham has no dissenters
 The day passed off with cheerful enthu siasm.
 .The suffragists did able work in tn, Il capacity of registrars and wish to thanl
 them.
 '.The colored registration is especiall,
 heavy believe this is largely due tt
 the efforts of E.. A. Brown. coored at
 torney, and his committee, who have
 worked hard drilling the colored regis trars and spreading the information tt
 all the colored people that the govern
 ment expected every man to do his duty "The city wishes to thank the T. c.
 company for the large corps of clerks
 both at Ensley and in the city who art
 assisting in tabulating returns and see
 ling that the standardization is complett and in proper shape:
 . "Thanks are also due the owners of thu | stores so generously donated. withou
 charge. for registration purposes" LETTERS TO EDITOR