The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-16

Young Americans Crowd Regis
tration Booths in All Parts
of the Country.
MILITARY CENSUS A SUCCESS
Manhood of Nation Stands Test of
Loyalty in Satisfying Manner
Government Well Pleased.

Washington -Ten million young
Americans enrolled themselves for
war service.
Registration Day with only a few
weeks of preparation saw the first
military census ever taken in the
United States completed without a
single untoward event of Importance.
The manhood of the Nation obeyed
the Presidents call and volunteered
in mass, setting at naught all the
schemes and pIottings of German SYM
pathiZers and the few cranks who
have agitated against registration.
1t remains only to select the men
who are to go to the front.
The Country United.
From every state congratulatory
messages came to Brigadier General
Crowder, provost marshal general, fed
eral supervising officer of the great
enterprise. While no complete re-
turns from any state were transmitted
up to a late hour, the governors were
unanimous in reporting that quiet had
prevailed throughout the day and that
a full registration was indicated.
The early reports, showing a full
turnout all over the country, indicated
that the estimates of the census bu-
reau as to the number of men within
the specified age limits would be veri-
fled by the count With the closing
of each registration precinct, officials
went at once to the task of sorting
and classifying fho cards
Officials Have Big Task.
There is much work to be done in
order that the brief synopsis which
each governor will make to General
Crowder of the registration office his
state may go forward promptly. Gen
eral Crowder is hopeful that another
thirty-six hours will see the full rec
ord of the country on his desk. The
State Department was called upon for
additional cards today by the thou
sands.
Few eleventh hour rulings were
found necessary. The system devised
by General Crowder of invoking the
election machinery of the Nation in
the task worked with smoothness
that spoke of perfect cooperation by
state, county and municipality author
tiles.
More Quiet Than Elections.
Department of Justice officials had
anticipated only local or sporadic dis
turbances and had predicted that the
men opposed to registration would not
resort to force anywhere, but they
took every precaution.
Every man in the field had strict
orders to arrest offenders promptly
and hale them before federal commits
sioners. The success of their plans
of the work of the men in the field
in the splendid order that prevailed
generally surpassed even the expec-
tations of government officials.
The reports showed that the regis
tration passed without even such ex.
citing disturbances as mark a general
political election.
The Official Statement.
Registration day developments were
summarized by the committee on pub
lie information in the following state
ment:
1.-THE registration was accomplished
in fashion measuring up to the high
est standards of Americanism. Young
men came to the registration places
enthusiastic; there was no hint Of g
stacking spirit anywhere.
From every state reports were re
ceived showing that the sporadic con
spiracies to thwart the first step to
ward the mobilization of as large al
army as the country may need tt
bring the war to a victorious conclu
sion had failed utterly.
1.-THE spirit of the young men from
whom the fighting forces are to be
selected was evidenced in their atti
tude toward Question II on the regis
tration blanks, which asked if exemp
ton was claimed. In thousands o
cases young men awaited themselve
of their right to ignore this questio,
and to leave it entirely for the gov
eminent to decide whether the,
should be selected.
1T was not volunteer enterpris
upon which the men of military ag
were embarking, but they entere
upon it in the spirit OF men who wer
seeking the opportunity to serve
Presidents Message Spread
ITO each man who registere