Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-10

this with absolute certainty; and it is
essential to the honor of the country
and to our place in history that all who
refrain from hostilities and abide by
the laws of the United States shall rest
assured of their right to pursue their
lives and occupations in peace. This
is q land of liberty, but II is also
land of law, and nothing could be more
unfortunate than for our people, or any
of them, to exhibit any want of dignity,
patience and justice.
The attorney general, as the head Of
one of the great departments of the gov
eminent, is exceedingly DESTROYS Of be-
ing able to rest sure that nothing will
transpire to reflect upon the honor and
chivalry of the country. He regards the
protection of peaceful aliens as a patriot
ic duty of the highest Importance, and
has desired me, as he desires all the Of
ficers of the government, to Cooperate in
the accomplishment Of such a policy.
am venturing therefore, thus publicly
to bring these matters to the attention
of the public and to the officers Of the
state of Georgia and to express the
hope. as I feel the confidence, that all
persons in this district, both private
citizens and public officers. will cooper
ate in giving him the assurance desired.
Even while this statement is being
prepared there has been brought to my at
tention a matter which emphasizes ana
illustrate the Importance of a just recos-
iiition of these views by all our people
A native German who came to this coun-
try twenty-five years ago who has serv-
ed this country faithfully and well in
| the Spanish-American war, who has long
ago taken steps to become an American
citizen, who has been a valuable part of
| the community in which he lives and has
been I'm the service of a large corpora
ton, composed of patriotic men devoted to
the government. and who enjoys the UNI
| qualified confidence, not only of his EN-
| ployers, but of the officers of the United
States. who have been entirely acquaint
| ed with his record, has found himself
obliged to leave the community in which
/ he has made his home and where he was
/ rendering public service of great value
not because of any wrongdoing on his
/ part. but because Of persistent and UNI
| justified rumors criticisms and insinua-
/ tins by irresponsible elements of the
community, and because he felt that it
was to the interest of his employers not
to involve them In the unjust suspicious
directed against himself Thing of this
sort are most regrettable and tend to
bring discredit upon our country.
THE president has issued a proclama-
| ton relative to alien enemies which
has been fully published in the papers
and which is according to law and makes
all the regulations and requirements that
now regarded as necessary for the public
| safety. II may be depended upon that
/ if further action is necessary, the prest-
/ dent will take it.
THE proclamation prescrfbes. as the
| president is authorized by law to do.
/ strict regulations for the government
/ and conduct of all alien enemies, and
| this includes all persons who are sub
| jects of the German empire and not yet
! fully naturalized. If these regulations
are disobeyed the recalcitrant will be
/ promptly dealt with and, II necessary.
/ imprisoned. BY the twelfth of these
regulations any alien enemy whom
/ there may be reasonable cause to be-
| lieye to be aiding or about to aid the
/ enemy or who may be at large to the
/ danger Of the public peace or safety or
/ who violates or who attempts to vio-
( late or OF whom there is reasonable
} grounds Ia believe that he is about to
I violate any regulation TO be promulgated
by the president or any criminal law of
+ the United States, or of the states or
territories thereof. will be subject 10
summary arrest by the United States
marshal or his deputy. or such other
officers as the pres:dent shall designate.
and to confinement In such penitentiary.
prison. jail. military camp or other place
of detention as may be directed by the
president
at will be observed that very wide
J and extensive power is here vested in
I the public officers of the United States,
} \ power rarely ever exercised in this
/ country. and which i'm time of peace
would be regarded as inconsistent with
4 our traditions and institutions. but
| which in time of war is necessary for
i the public safety. This power is am
| pie and will be unhesitatingly exer-
/ cised The officers of the government
are alive TO the situation and viii do,
according to law. whatever is necessar.
/ for the protection OF the publ peace
/ and the public safety. They will vel
come all information that may be COM
nunicated. and will patiently and coli
scientiously investigate it all They
feel. however. justified i'm urging in the
most earnest manner that nothing be
done beyond the things that are or may