McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-04-13
WAR PROCLAMATION
EXPORTS THE ]. S;
ALIENS ARE WARNED
Last Step to Active Hostllities
Taken When President Signs.
CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Subjects Of Kaiser EnJoined to Keep
the Peace and Will BE Held Liable
for Dlsobedienee--Barred From
Entering Certain Localities.
Washington, April President Will
son signed proclamation formally de-
claring state of war between the
United States and Germany. In the
proclamation he called upon American
citizens to give support to all meas
ures Of the government.
The Proclamation.
The war proclamation follows:
whereas, The congress Of the United
States IN the exercise of the constitu-
tional authority vested In them have
resolved by joint resolution Of the SEN
ate and house OF representatives bear
Ing date this day shat state Of war
between the United States and the I'M
perial German government which has
been thrust upon the United States Is
hereby formally declared;
Whereas, It is provided by section
4,067 Of the revised statutes as fol-
lows:
Under War Conditions.
whenever there is declared war
between the United States and any
foreign nation or government, or any
invasion of predatory incursion is per-
petrated, attempted or threatened
against the territory of the United
Suites by any foreign nation or gov
eminent and the president makes pub
lie proclamation Of the event, all ma
tives, citizens, denizens or subjects Of
hostile nation or government being
males Of the age Of fourteen years and
upward who shall be within the Unit
ed States and not actually naturalized,
shall be liable to beeapprehended, re-
strained, secured and removed as alien
enemies.
To Watch Conduct Of Aliens.
"The president is authorized In any
such event by his proclamation there
of, or other public acts, to direct the
conduct to be observed on the part of
the United States toward the aliens
who become SO liable; the manner
and degree Of the restraint to which
they shall be subject and in what cases
and upon what security their residence
shall be permitted, and to provide for
the removal Of those who, not being
permitted to reside within the United
States, refuse or neglect to depart
therefrom; and to establish any such
regulations which are found necessary
In the premises and for the public
safety;
"Whereas, BY sections 4,O6S, 4,069
and 4,07O Of the revised statutes, fur
Their provision Is made relative to alien
enemies;
ProcIalms State of War.
"Now, therefore, I. Woodrow Wilson,
president Of the United States Of
America, do hereby proclaim, to all
whom it may concern. that state Of
war exists between the United States
and the imperial German government.
II do specially direct all officers,
civil or military, of the United States,
that they exercise vigilance and zeal
in the discharge Of the duties Incident
to such state Of war and do, more
over, earnestly appeal to all American
citizens that they, In loyal devotion
to their country, dedicated from its
foundation to the principles Of liberty
and justice, uphold the laws of the
the land and give undivided and willing
support to those measures which may
be adopted by the constitutional au-
thorities in prosecuting the war to a
successful issue and in obtaining q Sc
cure and just peace; and acting under
and by virtue Of the authority vested
In me by the Constitution of the
United States and the said sections Of
the revised statutes, do hereby fur
Their proclaim and direct that the con-
duct to be observed on the part of the
United States towards all natives, citi-
Gems, denixens or subjects Of Germany,
being male of the age Of fourteen years
and upwards, who shall be within the
United States and not actually natural
lied, who for the purpose of this proc
lamation and under such sections Of
the revised statutes are termed alien
enemies, shall be us follows:
A. to Allen Enemies.
"All alien enemies are enjoined to
preserve the peace towards the United
States and to refrain from crime
against the public safety and from vio-
lating the laws of the United States
and Of the states and territories there
Of, and to refrain from actual HOSTILE
ties or giving information, aid or COM
fort to the enemies of the United
States and to comply strictly with the
regulations which are hereby or may
be from time TO time promulgated by
the president, and so long as they shall
conduct themselves in accordance with
the law, they shall be undisturbed in
the peaceful pursuit of their lives and
occupations and be accorded the con-
sideration due to all peaceful and law
| abiding persons, except so far as re-
strictions may be necessary for their
own protection and for the safety Of
the United States; and towards such
alien enemies rs conduct themselves
In accordance with law, all citizens Of
the United States are enjoined to pre-
serve the peace and to treat them with
all such friendliness as may be COM
patible with loyalty and allegiance to
the United StateA