The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-08-10
TREASON CHARGED
DRAFT RESISTERS
SLACkERS FACE MILITARY
COURT MARTIAL FOR
DISCRETION.
DEATH IS THE PENALTY
Local officials To Assist Government
In Bringing Them To
Book.

Washington, Aug. 4.-Registered
men who resist the selective draft
law face military court-martial for
, desertion and the possibility of exc
cution for desertion in time of war.
The whole military and civil power
of the Federal Government and the
civil power of the States. cities, or
counties will be employed to bring
, them to book.
This was announced in formal
statement tonight by Brig. Gen.
Enoch II. Crowder, Provost Marshal
General, in response to reports from
| North Carolina. Georgia and Oklaho-
| ma, of antidraft disturbances. As
yet the power of the Federal Govern
ment has not been invoked by the
| Governors of the three States, nor by
the agents of the Department of JUS
tice. The only official notice receiv-
| ed in Washington of the disturbances
was telegram from the Governor of
North Carolina, saying that the reg.
! istered men of two townships in the
State might refuse in body to COM
| ply with the sumons for examination.
No official word came from Oklahoma
where the most serious situation pre-
walls. 1t was believed the Governor.
both in his official State capacity and
as the direct agent of the President
in the execution of the draft law is
confident that order can be restored
without military aid. There will he
no hesitation, however, in employing
Federal troops if they are needed.
Gen. Crowder's statement, formal
lated after conference with officials of
| the Justice Department, follows:
Law To Take Course.
whether in Oklahoma or any
where else if persons who are regular
ly selected for military service under
the selective soldiers act fail to obey
when properly notified and called,
they will be reached and Overtaken
by the strong arm of the Federal law
and brought before the proper reg
istration boards"
In practice, under Gen. CrOwder's
instruction of the law, registered men
who do not appear for examination,
will be posted to the district boards
as selected for military service as
soon as the fve-day period allowed
them to put in an appearance after
they have been summoned, has elaps-
ed. Two days more will elapse after
their names reach the district board
to which appeal action by the indi-
vidual is to be made. They will then
be posted to the Adjutant General of
the State as selected to fill the quotas
of their district.
Orders for the mobilization of the
selected men will be given some time
during the present month. IL the
register fails to obey that order, he
will be set down as absent without
leave, and the machinery of the army
will be set in motion to bring him in.
In addition, all State and municipal
authorities and United States Mar
shals will be used to apprehend him.
When it is clear that he is wilfully
absenting himself with no intention
of reporting to the army, charge OF
desertion will be placed against him
From that time on, any civil officer
who arrests him will earn a reward
Of $50.
Sentence Is Death.
II found guilty by cOurtmartial Of
desertion, the individual may be sent
enced TO death and only the President
can save him from punishment
Gen. Crowder believes that the re-
sisters in Oklahoma and elsewhere
are acting under delusion, fostered
probably by agitators, that are con-
Quoting a POLITICAL campaign against
the draft, whereas the time Tor that
when the registration was com
pleted. The Government takes no
interest in their proceedings now I'M
less they fail to report to their com
panies when called. There is no ques-
ton involved of civil court or local
juries. Thirteen army officers will
pass ON the cases of the men when
they are brought to book, and the
armed strength of the Nation is avail
able to bring them to book.
AS to those who are aiding orabet-
ing the resisters the situation is
different. While the GovermeH will
make no effort to bring in men who
do not obey the summons Of the local
selection boards or attempt to en-