The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-05-25

in active service In the Territories
of Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico a
day for registration will be named III
later proclamation.
And | do charge those who through
sickness shall be unable 10 present
themselves for registration that they
apply on or before the day of regis
tration TO the county clerk of the
county where they may be for in
structions as to how they may be
registered by agent. Those who eX
pect to be absent on the day named
from the counties in which they have
their permanent homes may register
by mail, but their mailed registration
cards must reach the places in which
they have their permanent homes by
the day named herein. They should
apply as soon as practicable to the
county clerk of the county wherein
they may be for instructions as TO
how they may accomplish their reg
istration by mail. In case such per-
sons as, through sickness or absence,
may be unable to present themselves
personally for registration shall be
sojourning in cities Of over thirty
thousand population, they shall apply
to the city clerk of the city wherein
they may be sojourning rather than
to the clerk of the county, The clerks
of counties and Of cities of over thirty
thousand population in which numer-
Gus applications from the sick and
from non-residents are expected are
authorized to establish such sub
agencies and to employ and deputize
such clerical force as may be neces-
sary to accommodate these applica-
tionS.
The power against which we are ar
rayed has sought to impose its will
upon the world by force. To this end
it has increased armament until it has
changed the face of war In the sense
in which we have been wont TO think
of armies there are no armies in this
struggle There are entire nations
armed Thus, the men who remain
to till the soil and man the factories
are no less part of the army that is
France than the men beneath the bat
tie flags. 1t must be so with us. 1t
is not All army that we must shape
and train for war; it is nation. To
this end our people must draw close
in one compact front against a com
mon Zoe. But this can not be if each
man pursues a private purpose. All
must pursue one purpose. The Ma
ton needs all men; but it needs each
man, not in the field that will most
pleasure him, but in the endeavor that
will best serve the common good.
Thus, though a sharpshooter pleases
to operate trip-hammer for the forg-
ing OF great guns, and an expert ma
chinist desires to march with the flag,
the Nation is being served only when
the sharpshooter marches and the ma
chinist remains at his levers. The
whole Nation must be team in which
each man shall play the part for which
he is best fitted. To this end, Con-
gress has provided that the Nation
shall be organized for war by selec-
ton and that each man shall be class
! flied for service in the place to which
it shall best serve the general good to
call him.
The significance of this can not be
overstated. II is a new thing in our
history and a landmark in our pro-
gresS. 1t Is new manner of accept
ing and vitalizing our duty to give
ourselves with thoughtful devotion -
the common purpose OF us all. 1t IS
IN no sense a CONSUMPTION of the .un-
willing; 1t is, rather selection from d
nation which has volunteered in mass.
1t is no more choosing of those who
shall march with the colors than it is
selection of those who shall serve
an equally necessary and devoted pur-
pose in the industries that lie behind
the battle line.
The day here named is the time
upon which all shall present them
selves for assignment to their tasks.
1t is for that reason destined to be
remembered as one of the most con-
spicuous moments in our history. 1t
is nothing less than the day upon
which the manhood of the country
shall step forward in one solid rank
in defense of the ideals to which this
Nation is consecrated. 1t is important
to those ideals no less than to the
pride OF this generation in manifest
ing its devotion to them. that there
be no gaps in the ranks.
1t is essential that the day be APP
preached in thoughtful apprehension
of its significance and that we accord
to it the honor and the meaning that
il deserves. Our industrial need pre-
scribed that it be not made a techni-
cal holiday, but the stern sacrifice that
is before us urges that it be carried in
all our hearts as a great day of patri-
otto devotion and obligation when the
duty shall lie upon every man,
whether he is himself to be registered
or not, to see to it that the name of
every male person of the designated
ages is written on these lists OF honor.
In Witness Whereof, / have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
Of the United States TO be affixed