The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-04-18
PUNISHMENT TO
FOLLOW TREASON
President Wilson Issues I'M
pOrtant Proclamation.
PLAIN WARNING TO ALIENS

Owe Allegiance, and TreasonabIe
Acts, Shielding Offenders and plot
ting viii Be Vigorously Dealt With.
Washington, April 1S-All persons
in the United States. citizens and
aliens, are warned in proclamation
issued by President Wilson that 'rea-
sonable acts or attempts to shield
those committing such acts will be
vigorously prosecuted by the govern
ment
Farreaching Importance attaches to
the direction of the warning to aliens
and the declaration that "residert
aliens as well as citizens owe ale
glance to the United States" and.
therefore, are equally subject to the
laws against treason and like crimes
Not only are conspirators them
selves subject to heavy penalties. bat
any one. even a German resident. who
has knowledge Of reasonable acts
and fails to notify the authorities. may
be sent to prison for seven years and
fined $4,000 for misprison of treason.
The presidents proclamation is
Whereas. all persons in the United
States. citizens as we'll as aliens.
should be informed of the penalties
which they will incur for any failure
to bear true allegiance TO the United
States.
Now. therefore. /. Woodrow Will
son, president of the United States.
hereby issue this proclamation to call
especial attention To the following
provisions of the Constitution and the
laws of the United States
Clause Governing Cases.
Section OF article I'll of the Con
stitution provides in part.
Treason against the United States
shall consist only in levying war
against them. or in adhering to their
enemies. giving them aid and comfort
THE commercial code of the United
States provides
Section |. Whoever. owing allie
glance TO the United States. levies war
against them or adheres to their enc
mics. giving them aid and comfort.
within the United States or elsewhere.
is guilty OF treason.
Sec. 2. Whoever is convicted of
treason shall suffer death. or at the
discretion of the court shall be i'm
prisoned not less than FIVE years and
fined not less than $4,000. to be levied
on and collected out Of any or all of
which he was the owner at the time
of committing such treason, any sale
or conveyance TO the contrary notwith.
standing. and every person 50 convict
ed of treason shall. moreover. be ia.
capable of holding any office under the
United States
Sec. 3. Whoever owing allegiance
to the United States and having
knowledge of the commission of any
treason against them conceals ard
does not, as soon as NAV be. dis.
close and make known the same to the
president or to sce Judge of the
United States. or to the governor or
to some judge or Justice of a particu-
lar state, is guilty OF misprison of trea-
son and shall be Imprisoned not more
than seven years and fined not more
than $1,000
Plotters Face Prison Terms.
"'Sec. 6. If two or more persons In
any state or territory or i'm any place
subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States. conspire to overthrow.
put down, or to destroy by force the
government of the United States. or
to levy war against them. or to op-
pose by fierce the authority thereof,
or by force to prevent hinder, or de-
lay the execution of any law of the
United States, or by force to seize,
take. or possess any property of the
United States contrary to the author
ity thereof they shall be fined not
more than $4,000, or imprisoned not
more than six years. or both
The courts of the United States
have stated the following acts to be
reasonable.
THE use or attempted use OF any
force or violence against the govern
ment of the United States or its mill.
tary or naval forces.
''The acquisition. use or disposal of
any property with knowledge that it Is
to be or with intent that it shall be of
assistance to the enemy in their hos
tilities against the United States.
"The performance of any act or the
publication of statements or informa-
ton which will give or supply. in any
way aid aud comfort to the enemies
5f the United States.
"The direction, aiding, counseling
or countenancing of any of the fore
going acts.
Aliens Also Owe Allegiance.
Such acts &re held to be trsAsQn-