New Britain herald., 1917-05-19

Porto Rico day for registration will be named in a later proclamation.
 And I do charge those who through sickness shall be unable to present themselves for registration that they apply on or before the day of registration to the county clerk of the county where they 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 regis tration by mall. 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 30,000 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 30, 900 population in which numerous appli- cations from the sick and from non- residents are expected are authorised to establish such agencies and to em- ploy and deputize such clerical force as may be necessary to accommodates these applications.
 "The power against which we are arrayed has sought to impose its will upon the world by force. To this end 1t has increased armament until it has changed the faoe of war. In the sense in which we have been wont to: think of armies. there are no armies in this struggle, there arc entire nations armed. Thus, the men who remain to till the soil and man the factories are not less part of the army that is France than the men beneath the battle fass. It must be so with us. It Is not an army that we must shape and train for war; 1t is a nation
 ''To this end our people must draw close in one compact front against 8 common foe. But this cannot be if each man pursues a private purpose. All must pursue one purpose. The nation needs all men; but 1t needs each man, not. in the field that will best serve the common good. Thus though sharpshooter pleases to operate a trip-hammer for the forging 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 machinist remains at his levers.
 ''The whole nation must be a team, in which each man shall play tho part for which he is best fitted. To this end, congress has provided that the nation shall be organized for war by selection; that each man shall be classified for service in the place to which 1t shall best serve the general good to call him.
 'The significance of this cannot be overstated.G It is . new thing in our history and landmark in our pro- gress It Is a new manner of accept ing and vitalizing our duty to give ourselves with thoughtful devotion to the common purpose of us all. It is in no sense a conscription of the un- willing; it is. rather, selection from a nation which has volunteered in mass It is no more a choosing of those who shall march with the colors than 1t is a 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