Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-24
ARMY BIll. |, /
is SIGNED
)uno ) Set as Day
TO Register,
DUTY IS MADE PLAIN
President Wilson Issues Patrj-
otto Proclamation.

MISUNDERSTANDING Tuesday,
tAuno S, between the hours Of Z a. m.
asnd 8 p. M, as the date for registra-
Zion of all male citizens of the United
S5tatcs between the ages of twenty-one
and thirty years, inclusive, Presi-
eient Wilson issued a sweeping proc
aamation declaring the selective draft
provision of the war army measure in
operation.
The proclamation recites the penal
tiles for failure to register, Justification
IN registering, refusal of state or
county officials to follow registration
orders and many other penalties as
provided under the measure.
Provision is made for the register
.ang of %absentees and men within the
limits who are i'll. The proclamation
follows, in part:
"Now, therefore, I. Woodrow Will
son, president of the United States,
do call upon the governors of each of
the several states and territories, the
sooard of commissioners of the Dis
e1rlct Of Columbia and all officers and
agents of the several states and terri
tories, of the District of Columbia and
of the counties and municipalities
Gherein to perform certain duties in
the execution of the law, which duties
will be communicated to them directly
lin regulations of even date herewith.
Sets Date for Registration.
"And do further proclaim and give
notice to all persons subject to regis
tration in the several states and in
tho District of Columbia in accordance
with the law, that the time and place
of such registration shall be between
z a. M. and 8 p. m. on the fifth day Of
sumo, 1917, at the registration place il
che precinct wherein they have their
permanent homes.
eeThose who shall have attained their
Ewenty-frst birthday and who shall
not have attained their thrity-irst
birthday on or before the day here
1amed are required to register, ex-
acepting only officers and enlisted men
of the regular army, the navy, the ma
zine corps and the national guard, and
naval militia while in the service Of
che United States, and officers in the
officers reserve corps and enlisted
saen in the enlisted reserve corps
while in active service. In the terri
SORES Of Alaska, Hawaii and Porto
Rico a day for registration will be
named in a later proclamation.
"The power against which we are
zarraycd has sought to impose its will
gapon the world by force. To this end
st has increased armament until it has
changed the face of war. In the
sense in which we have been Won't to
'aliinl1 Of armies there are no armies
sn &his struggle. There are entire ma
3ons armed.
Every Citizen Can Assist.
"Thus, the men who remain to till
Sale soil and lnan the factories are no
aess a part of the army that is in
sTrance than the men beneath the bat
Gle flags. 1t must be so with us.
cit is not an army that we must
shape and train for war; it is a ma
zion. To this end our people must
draw close in one compact front
against a common foe. But this can
rot De ii each man pursues a pri-
waite purpose, All must pursue one
purpose.
SThc nation needs all men; but it
@eeds each man, not in the field that
will most please him, but in the en-
&1eavor that will best serve the com.
n good.
"Thus, though a sh%arpshooter
pleases to operate a t%riphammer for
the forging of great guns and an ex-
pert macllinist desires to march with
che flag, the nation is being served
only when the sharpshooter marches
and the machinist remains at his
levers.
Nation Should Work In Unison,
~The whole nation must be a team
IN which each man shall play the part
Cor which he is best fitted.
"To this end congress has proyid-
ed that the nation shall be organized
Cor war by selection and that each
man shall be classified for service in
the place to which it shall best serve
tho general good to call him.
1.-THE significance of this cannot be
,overstated. 1t is a new thing in our
history and a landmark in our prog.
ress. IT is a new'm manner of accept.
ing and vitalizing our duty to give
ourselves with thoughtful devotion
to the common purpose of us all.
at is in no sense a CONSUMPTION of
Che unwilling; it is rather selection
from q nation which has volunteered
In mass.
at is no more a choosing Of those
who shall march with the colors than
It is q selection of those who shall
serve an equally necessary and de-
voted purpose In the industries that
tie behind the battle line"