The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
IUNNATURALIZED ! GERMANS ARE ID | BE REGISTERED IN | FEBRUARY 4 Department of Justice Is- sues Instructions on the Method of Undertaking POSTMASTERS AND
 POLICE NAMED TO CARRY OUT WORK These Aliens Are Not to Be Treated as Evil Inclined,
 States Order to
 Registrars

Washington, December 3O.--Thc week of February 4 was set aside by the department of justice today for registration of the half million un- naturalized Germans in continental United States by police and postmast- CTS in pursuance of President Wilson's allen enemy proclamation directing this action as a means of minimizing the danger from enemy sympathixers in the United States.
 Earlier plans for administering the registration in the eastern cities first and gradually extending 1t. to the en- tire country were abandoned because of the fear that some Germans might avoid registration by moving from dis- trict to district.
 MUST CARRY CERTIFICATE Registration will involve the gathers ngi of detailed information concern- ing of detailed information and habits of every German, together with hia photograph and finger prints. After Registering he must carry certificate card and may not change his place of residence without approval of the police or postmaster. violation of the
  ternment for the war. WOMEN NOT INCLUDED The orders do not apply to German women nor tofanS person vnder 1A years of age. because these are not classed as alien enemies by law. Subj jects of Austria Hungary are not re- quired to register.
 In announcing the regulations today, the department of justice took care to avoid creating the impression that the government looks on each Ger- man with suspicion.
 'Registrants are not to be treated as persons of evil dispositions.' said instructions to registrars. land tho registration officers are urged to deal with them in courteous and friend- ly manner"
 MANY CO-OPERATORS
 Police, federal marshals and agents and postal authorities are expected to cooperate in the roundup during reg istration week, and to investigate and check up each fact reported by the registrants. Certificate cards will be issued only after a complete verifica- tion is made. The information ob- tained will be of distinct value to of fcials in running down enemy plots and propaganda, and in discovering what Germans bear close watching. The task will be great in cities where the German population is large, and newspapers will be asked to assist.
 POLICE ACT IN CITIES
 In cities of 5000 more population. re- corded by the 1910 census, a list of which is issued by the department of justice. the chief of police and his assistants win administer the registration. In smaller communities and rural districts regis- tration Will be conducted by the post masters, and the postmaster of the largest office in the local Judicial dis trict, in most states the equivalent of . county, win be the chief registration offi- cer to gather reports from the others and forward them to the United tSates mar shal and the department of justice. Tn most cities the work will be done by precincts.
 MUST MAKE AFFIDAVIT
 Every German is required to go to the registrar and make out duplicate affi- davit information blanks and to furnish four photographs of himself, one for each affidavit and one for his registra- tion card The photograph must bear his signature written across the front and must not be larger than three inches square. It must be on thin paper and have light background.
 The affidavit provides for recording name, address, age, place of birth, occu- pations and residences since January |, 1914. date of arrival in the United ma ritsd mn, of children. whether the registrant has or has had any male relatives in arms against the United States. whether reg istered for the draft, military traininR. naturalization conditions and similar in formation. Full description of the mo n x and the prints of each finger must be < taken by the registrar. The registrant must swear to the affidavit before tho registering officer.
 SMALL OFFICE PLAN
 Small postoffices not equipped with finger print apparatus are advised to borrow small quantity of printers inl and roller from the town printer and to make the impressions upon the fnk spread on a pane of glass
 One of the duplicate records is to be Kept by the registration agent, one Sent to tbe United States marshal and one to the irtment of justice at Washington.
 Ge ans not at their place of residence durs the week of February may ba reg cred in the district in which they hap en to be-
 Registration plans will be made later for the Philippines Hawaii. the Panarnh canal zone, Alaska, Virgin Islands, Guam and Samoa. Several million registratio blanks and other forms will be lis- tributed within the next few weeks.
 The registration is under the direction of John Lord O'Brian. special assistant to Attorney General Gregory, and a ktaH