The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-19
DEATH PENALTY
WARNING ISSUED
Rigid Punishment to Be Given
For TTGaS0nabI9 Acts
ALL PERSONS ALIKE LIABLE

President Wilson Makes Public
Proclamation Defining Treason and
Its Consequences-Plot Outside
Borders of Country Regarded as
Traitors Equally With Those Inside.
Punishment For Shielding VioIators.
Washington, April 17.-President
Wilson has put his foot down hard on
treason.
The president issued a proclamation
warning all citizens of the United
States as well as all aliens domiciled
in the United States and owing al
legiance to this government, that the
commission of any acts in violation of
laws which he enumerates will be Wig
orously prosecuted.
The proclamation sets forth the
various acts which the courts have
held to be reasonable and are punish
able by death. The proclamation
says:
THE criminal code of the United
States provides:
"'Section 1-Whoever, owing al
legiance to the United States, levies
war against them or adheres to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort
within the United States or elsewhere,
is guilty of treason
"'Sectfon 2. Whoever is convicted
of treason shall suffer death; or, at
la sn,, Ag h. h.
imprisoned not less than five years
and fined not less than $4,000, to be
levied on and collected out of any or
all OF his property, real and personal,
of which he was the owner at the time
of committing such treason any sale
or conveyance to the contrary not
withstanding, and every person so
convicted of treason shall, moreover,
be incapable of holding any office un-
der the United States
"'Section g. Whoever, owing alleg-
lance to the United States and having
knowledge of the commission of any
treason against them, conceals and
does not, as soon as may be, disclose
and make the same known to the pres
ident or some judge of the United
States or to the government or to
some judge or justice of particular
state, is guilty of misprison of treason
and shall be imprisoned not more than
seven years, and fined not more than
$1,000
Section 6. If two or more per
sons in any state or territory or in
any place subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, conspire to over
throw, put down, or to destroy by
force the government of the United
States, or to levy war against them,
or to oppose by force the authority
thereof, or by force to prevent hinder
or delay the execution of any law of
the United States, or by force to
seize, take. or possess any property
of the United States contrary to the
authority thereof, they shall each be
fined not more than $1,000, or impris-
oned not more than six years, or
BOTH"
"The courts of the United States
have stated the following acts to be
reasonable:
"The use or attempted use of any
force or violence against the govern
ment of the United States or its mill
tary or naval forces;
"The acquisition, use, or disposal of
any property with knowledge that it is
to be, or with intent that it shall be
of assistance to the enemy in their
hostilities against the United States;
"The performance of any act Or the
publication of statements or informa
ton which will give or supply. in any
way, aid and comfort to the enemies
of the United States;
"The directing, aiding, counselling
or countenancing of any of the fore
going acts.
"Such acts are held to be treason
able whether committed within the
United States or elsewhere; whether
committed by a citizen of the United
States or by aliens as we'll as citi-
zens owing allegiance to the United
States and its laws"