Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-05
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
WASHINGTON. June 3. - Young
America was at the polls today. cast
ing lis vote for world democracy
registering for service.
Reports TO the United Press early |
today showed registration day fair
throughout practically all the nation. !
The youth OF the country was pledg-
ing itself bright and early. heavy list
ing being reported everywhere in the
first few hours after opening Of the
registration station No city reported
any disturbances in the early hours
and the impromptu election machine
, called into service I'm the hour when
America Is selecting her men 10 fight
I Germany was running smoothly and
easily.
BY nfght Provost Marshal General
CroWder expects that 10.264, $50
Americans between 2l and 81 will
have listed Themselves IN the pOten-
tial army OF the draft.
Some time between now and early
fall 62500 of this 10.264,S $50 viii be
chosen by lot. called formally TO the
colors and started in the government
soldier-producing factory Half a mill
lion OF the Americans who registered
will constitute the first American
draft army. The remaining 125.0O0
will form the reserve from which va
cancies in this first half a million will
be filled
Today was Americas first expert
cnce with n compulsory draft. from
II II. l..
purchase Of substitute. IL was the
nations firai compulsory demand on
her youth since the days Of '6l.
Many States made holiday Of the
event. Hundreds Of cities held formal
celebrations. There we're paradeS. pa
triOtic mass meetings. banners and
pageants. For the most part America
"Went i'm with the Joyous enthusiasm
Of youth-of youth unafraid. ready for
a fight.
A more sober undertone was the
grim presence in mobillzed ranks OF
heavy police and militia guards OF
all registration places.
New York, melting pot OF the ma
ton. where a hundred nationalities
congregated-was under heavy guard.
Everyone OF Police Commissioner
also was every one OF the auxiliary
home guards ATmOred police auto
mobiles carrying machine guns were
! he'd in readiness for any emergency.
/ Every man I'm the National Guard
was under arms and held for any
emergency In less comprehensive
measure nearly all cities in the ma,
: tion took New York's precautions. II
was not expected that the day would
pass without few incidents where
trouble makers. agitators. cranks OF
even German spies might seek 20 in
terfere with the machinery OF the
draft. But every State and every city
was prepared 10 deal vigorously with
such malcontents And no serious
trouble was anticipated
Particularly heavy early reglstra-
tion was reported from Detroit. New
York Richmond. Atlanta, Boston.
Cleveland and most OF the other large
eastern cities The weather At all OF
those points was clear and sum
merry
The m'dd'e west went 70 the reg
istration noils on high speed.
Early indications were thai nearly
seventy-fve p0r cent OF the young
men In the cities eligible under Sc
.iec.ive service would be enrolled by
noon
In many cities tho weather was
lihreateniug End in some places n
drizzly rain had alreadv begun hut
while the long lines OF prosnective
soldiers a-d sailors were soaked 10
the skin the'~ patriotism was in nc
wav d@mnaned
downnour started In Chicag'
shortly before the hour the polls
opened. But Dennis J. Ega' chief
clerk 81 the election commission and
hoad ~ tie ~esietrafion machinery IN
this CITY. said that 70 "arlv indications
were bo-,e ort more than seventy ner
cent. - the to'al registration wouis
bo ~ hv MON
Tho youth ~ Otlaho~'a Civ raarched
70 fre rcils ~ tho "-arsic'' of eve-v
whistle a~a sire~ i~ he oitv Rcoistra-
tion officials said IS rer cent. Of the