New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-30
Washington Sure Scheme
Is Substitute for Re-
servists' Uprising
Attorney General
Calls for Vigilance
Warns u. S. Officers to Use
Severe Measures in Deal
ing with Conspiracy

Washington. May 29.-Attorney Gem
eral Gregory to-day instructed Oniteo
States attorneys and marshsls through
out the country TO use their utmos'
Efforts to arrest and prosecute all per-
sons responsible for the agitation
which has manifested itself IN locsh-
ties from New England to Texas
against the registration June OF men
subject to selective draft.
This agitation has made itself felt
somewhat in many sections. but thus
far there apparently is little connec-
ton between the outbreaks. Omeisis
have undertaken an exhaustive invesu-
cation to determine if the whole anti
draft sentiment is not rooted IN ex-
tensiye Vaccinations of German props-
candists in this country, having CEN
tral headquarters.
Color to this theory is lent in some
degree by the marked similarity IN
the methods of procedure in widely
separated communities. Some officials
believe that the entire agitation is
manufactured by German agents, VINO,
baffled in their original programme
calling for an armed uprising of Ger
man reservists in this country upon
, Americas entry into the war, have
turned their energies to this method
CT hindering the military plans Of the
government
Failure Of Plot Predicted
If such is the case. the conspiracy
will come to nothing, officials believe.
The Department Of Justice. IL was au-
thoritatively announced tonight. ex-
poets virtually 100 per cent of eligibles
to register, and prompt prosecutions
under the criminal provisions of the
law will be instituted in the few cases
where the law is not observed.
One Of the centres Of the anti-drsft
agitation is in Missouri, the state rep
resented in the Senate by William ].
Stone.
An organization calling itself the
Federal League of Democratic Control
filed in Kansas City to-day petition
for an injunction to restrain city,
county and state officials from enforc-
ing the provisions of the army regis
tration law. The lawyer who repre-
sented the league Is a man OF promi-
nence in the state. He is J. d. She
walter, of Independence, who in 1916
opposed James A. Reed for the Demo-
cratic nomination for United States
| Senator.
Mr.. Shewalter. in asking that ths
hearing upon his petition he post
poned TO June S. said he has to 20 to
the state capital, so that he could file
mandamus suit against the Governor
and the adjutant general. who had
been acting IN an oppressive man.
ner."
Wants Everybody to Help
To bring out the full registration
| Attorney General Gregory to-day in
vited the entire nation to constitute
| itself committee of the whole and
every man Of military age a committee
of Ole to report slackers.
Every man subject TO registration
is not only expected by the Department
Of Justice to comply with the law"
reads an official statement, "but also
TO constitute himself committee Of
one in his community to see that each
of his acquaintances who should regis
ter does so or is promptly reported
for prosecution under the criminal
provisions Of the law. Attorney Gen.
eral Gregory invites all young men Of
the country 20 cooperate in the en-
forcement of the law as part of their
patriotic duty.
Determined TO crush in incipiency
every movement designed to thwart or
interfere with registration as provided
/ for IN the law, the department is hsy-
ing It's officers throughout the country
arrest promptly all agitators against
compliance with the law.
THE department is not dependent
entirely on its agencies TO discover
( disloyal activity. State and municipsl
police are cooperating, and members
of national, patriotic and commercial
organizations, which were enlisted
after the declaration of a state of war
TO guard against all acts inimieal to
the general welfare are engaged in
bringing TO the attention OF United
States Attorneys and marshsIs all in
stances of attempts to discourage reg
/ istratlon.
All Will Be on Watch
These several agencies will be on
! duty June D. honeycombing the coun-
/ try TO see that every man subject to
registration complies with the law and
that every official delegated to carry
out its provisions performs his duty
properly"
All these officials will be protected
in the performances of their duty.
heavily protected in communities
where the agitation has manifested it.
! self. The instructions sent to all
United States Attorneys and marshals
reads as follows:
"Rumors with respect to possible re-.
sistance to the registration on June
| 8. under the selective service act, hay.
ing reached the Department Of Justice,
il is deemed expedient 10 issue the fol.
lowing instructions to you:
Attention is called 10 the duty en-
joined upon you Of protecting TO the
fullest extent the registrars and other.
carrying the law into effect, and 10 the
corresponding duty TO arrest and pros
| ecute all persons evading or encourag-