Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-06
MORE TIME GIVEN
FOR REGISTRATION
Those Who Can Show Good
Faith for Failure Yesterday
to Be Enrolled.
TOTAL EXCEEDS ESTIMATE

Persons who. for causes beyond their
control or by reason of misunder-
standing. failed to register yesterday
may have a few days additional time
to perform this duty. Under instruc-
tions sent to all governors today by
Provost Marshal General Crowder. regis
tration officials are directed to continue
registration of such absentees. provid-
ed the absentees can show absolutely
valid reasons for not registering yes
terday, as required by law.
The provost marshal general states.
however, that should it appear that
advantage was being taken OF TINS leh,
ielcy more rigorous measures Woulo
be taken.
The penalty for failing to register Is
one years Imprisonment, with no alter,
native of fine, and persons sentences
are to be drafted into the army at tne
expiration of their prison terms:
Provost Marshal General Crowder an
nounced this morning that inasmuch as
all registrars had been given until noon
today to make up their reports, no en-
tirely complete returns OF the registra-
ton could be expected until late today.
Telegram to Governors.
Gen. Crowder sent this telegram " al
governors:
Attention is invited to paragraph 40 OF
the regulations which contemplates the
registration Of persons who Tor any rea-
son shall not have been~registered on reg
istration day. While scrutiny should De
made of each case to determine whether
punitive action is required. II IS desI MSnai
for the next few days to pursue a liberal
policy in this regard in order that the
registration may be made complete az tne
earliest possible moment. -resioents NJ
may also continue to register under the
provisions Of paragraph 64. 1t later
appears that the liberality OF this policy
is being abused more stringent actlon VIII
be taken. Cards received from absentees
after June should be filed as prescribed
in paragraph 40.
Thorough Response Indicated.
Telegraphic reports to the Depart
ment Of Justice from widely separated
sections of the country continued to
show general absence of trouble over
registration and a thorough response to
the provisions Of the conscription law.
The reports indicated that estimates of
registration had been largely exceeded
in some states.
Kansas City. Mo-. reported that the
registration had exceeded the estimates
generally through the state and IN the
city alone $4,000 had registered, an
excess of SO per cent over the estimated
The United States attorney for the
northern district of Illinois reported an
estimated return for Chicago In excess
of the expected registration.
The departments representatives at
San Francisco telegraphed that at IL
o'clock last night &c, 500 of those Segis-
tered had been counted. or this mum.
Der 1900 claimed exemption and 6.5s3
were aliens. The estimated registration
for San Francisco Is 10000.
The first official report OF an arrest
for failure to register received at the
Department of Justice came from
SIavonian. was placed in Jail for nom
compliance with the law.
Draft Next Step.
The next step In the governments
plan will be the selection of those who
actually are to bear arms from others
who remain at home because OF depend
ents or to do the work on the farm or
in the factory that must be carried on
to maintain the nation at war. This
task will be undertaken as soon as
complete returns from the registration
have been tabulated and surveyed at
the Office Of the provost marshal gen.
eral
The men selected-about million. as
now estimated-will be called to the
colors and put into training early in
the fall. Originally it was intended to
call only 100000 for the first draft
army to support the National Guard
and regulars. but a few days ago it was
announced that nearly a million men
would be needed on the first selection.
Unofficial reports Of a few minor dis
turbances attending the registration re-
the surprise and qualification Of gov
ernment officials that the day passed
with SO little display of opposition.
Only four arrests were reported off,
cially to the Department of Justice last
night. and it was pointed out today
that even the sum Of unofficiaI reports
of trouble Indicate that the day was
more peaceful than most general cleo
tions.
Attorney General Gregory said his
eral response on the part of the young
men of the country to the demands of
the conscription act"
Exemption Claims Waived.
The War Department expects full re-
turns to show that a large proportion
of young men exercised their preroga-
tive and declined to claim exemption
even though many had dependents or
disabilities. Thus they expressed a spirit
of willingness to abide by the judgment
Of local exemption boards. and to do
their bit II the country needs them
Any who registered may still volun-
teer until selection day for any branch
Of the Army. Navy or Marine Corps,
and automatically pass from the ranks
subject to conscription. the War De-
partment pointed out.
Many who registered by mail failed
to record their present addresses.
Provost Marshal General Crowder re-
ported. Until the absentee sends this
address to the registrar of mis- home
precinct he cannot obtain a registra-
ton certificate.
Registration Of Alaska and Hawaii
remains to be carried out by the ter
ritorial authorities. and a number of
Americans abroad are expected to take
the first opportunity to enroll with
American embassies or consulates for
service.
SO many Americans in Canada an
piled to consuls yesterday that tele-
graphic requests for additional regis-
tration cards were sent to the State
Department.
! SOUVENII